--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People believe they lack will power, but…" description: "\"“People believe they lack will power, but will power is not something you either have or don’t, like blue eyes. Instead, it’s a skill, like tennis or t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/richard-o-connor-26230_nervous-system_people-believe-they-lack-will-power-but_441204.jpg" --- # People believe they lack will power, but will power is not… ![“People believe they lack will power, but will power is not something you either have or don’t, like blue eyes. Instead, it’s a skill, like tennis or typing. You have to train your nervous system as you would train your muscles and reflexes. You have to take yourself to the psychic gym—but with the…” quote by Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/richard-o-connor-26230_nervous-system_people-believe-they-lack-will-power-but_441204.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/richard-o-connor-26230_nervous-system_people-believe-they-lack-will-power-but_441204.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/richard-o-connor-26230_nervous-system_people-believe-they-lack-will-power-but_441204.jpg) > ““People believe they lack will power, but will power is not something you either have or don’t, like blue eyes. Instead, it’s a skill, like tennis or typing. You have to train your nervous system as you would train your muscles and reflexes. You have to take yourself to the psychic gym—but with the certainty that each time you practice an alternative behavior, you’ve made it easier to do next time.”” [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Willpower is a trainable skill, not an innate trait; regular practice rewires neural pathways, making desired behaviors easier over time. **In simple terms:** Willpower can be trained like a muscle. Key Takeaway Practice self‑control regularly. Themes self‑discipline habit formation neuroplasticity Mood motivational reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - exercise routines - study sessions - dietary changes - stress management Key Concepts skill acquisition behavioral conditioning Questions to Reflect On - What small habit can you start training today? - How does consistency affect your self‑control? A Different Perspective Training alone may not overcome deep‑seated emotional triggers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nervous system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous-system/) [Next time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-time/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Psychic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychic/) [Willpower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willpower/) ## Related quotes > [Lack of power and opportunity passes off too often for virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/lack-of-power-and-opportunity-passes-off-too-often-for-virtue/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [The number one thing that kills businesses in Africa is power - or the lack of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aliko-dangote/the-number-one-thing-that-kills-businesses-in-africa-is-power-or-the/) [Aliko Dangote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aliko-dangote/) > [“Lack of power, that was our dilemma. we had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wilson/lack-of-power-that-was-our-dilemma-we-had-to-find-a-power-by-which-we/) [Bill Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wilson/) > [lack of will power leads to more failure than lack of intelligence or ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anchee-min/lack-of-will-power-leads-to-more-failure-than-lack-of-intelligence-or/) [Anchee Min](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anchee-min/) > [You may lack will power, but that doesn't mean you can't take a lot of steps to make yourself more productive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry/you-may-lack-will-power-but-that-doesn-t-mean-you-can-t-take-a-lot-of/) [John Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry/) > [Lack of will power has caused more failure than lack of intelligence or ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lack-of-will-power-has-caused-more-failure-than-lack-of-intelligence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Have you noticed that far too often the best people in the world lack power,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/have-you-noticed-that-far-too-often-the-best-people-in-the-world-lack/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [In fact, other people create for lack of power. I, on the other hand, do not need a work: I live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/in-fact-other-people-create-for-lack-of-power-i-on-the-other-hand-do/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Fear is but another name for lack of power to control our minds, or, in other words, to control the kind of thought we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prentice-mulford/fear-is-but-another-name-for-lack-of-power-to-control-our-minds-or-in/) [Prentice Mulford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prentice-mulford/) > [Power corrupts, but lack of power corrupts absolutely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/power-corrupts-but-lack-of-power-corrupts-absolutely/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [The lack of power to take joy in outdoor nature is as real a misfortune as the lack of power to take joy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-lack-of-power-to-take-joy-in-outdoor-nature-is-as-real-a/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Clearly, I'm not psychic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/clearly-i-m-not-psychic/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [“You'll do fine." "What, you're psychic now?" "Didn't you know?" he asks seriously. "Must be an aftereffect of the bond.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tera-lynn-childs/you-ll-do-fine-what-you-re-psychic-now-didn-t-you-know-he-asks/) [Tera Lynn Childs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tera-lynn-childs/) > [“His grin split even wider. “I’d love the chance to prove you wrong.” And when he did, she’d know what he was thinking. She’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-daniel/his-grin-split-even-wider-i-d-love-the-chance-to-prove-you-wrong-and/) [Sara Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-daniel/) > [If you are psychic you may see that the smiling faces aren't smiling at all, inside. You can eliminate those individuals from your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-are-psychic-you-may-see-that-the-smiling-faces-aren-t-smiling/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Richard O'Connor > [“Each day’s practice does some good, and if you slip and fall off your diet or exercise program or mindfulness practice, all that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/each-day-s-practice-does-some-good-and-if-you-slip-and-fall-off-your/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“People often attempt to compensate for this loss of hope by comforting themselves with “consolation prizes”: easy but self-destructive habits like too much TV,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/people-often-attempt-to-compensate-for-this-loss-of-hope-by/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“It seems like the value you attribute to something, more than its inherent value, influences your expectations, and your expectations, to a great extent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/it-seems-like-the-value-you-attribute-to-something-more-than-its/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“One of the major reasons why it’s hard for us to get over dysfunctional paradigms is our habit of selective attention. We’re more likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/one-of-the-major-reasons-why-it-s-hard-for-us-to-get-over/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“There is a lot of research to suggest that we feel better overall as we are progressing toward our goals; we have a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/there-is-a-lot-of-research-to-suggest-that-we-feel-better-overall-as/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“Here’s a simple intervention to show what a little change in your negative narrative can do. First-year college students who receive worse grades than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/here-s-a-simple-intervention-to-show-what-a-little-change-in-your/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“Avoid enablers. These are people who make it easy for you to perform your self-destructive behavior. People you go on a smoking break with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/avoid-enablers-these-are-people-who-make-it-easy-for-you-to-perform/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“Basics of Good Self-Care Exercise moderately but regularly Eat healthy but delicious meals Regularize your sleep cycle Practice good personal hygiene Don’t drink to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/basics-of-good-self-care-exercise-moderately-but-regularly-eat/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“I realize now that no simple, single-factor theory of depression will ever work. Depression is partly in our genes, partly in our childhood experience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/i-realize-now-that-no-simple-single-factor-theory-of-depression-will/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“Avoid triggers. If you’re an alcoholic, stay out of bars. If you’re a depressed or impulsive shopper, don’t go shopping. When you have to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/avoid-triggers-if-you-re-an-alcoholic-stay-out-of-bars-if-you-re-a/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“Across thirty-two cities worldwide, people in 2006 were walking an average 10 percent faster than they were in 1994.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/across-thirty-two-cities-worldwide-people-in-2006-were-walking-an/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“Get up with the alarm, shower, get dressed, and have breakfast. Without much effort, you’ve already put yourself in a good position for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/get-up-with-the-alarm-shower-get-dressed-and-have-breakfast-without/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“Perhaps the best antidote and preventive for burnout is the feeling of solid connection with the people in our lives. When we can share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/perhaps-the-best-antidote-and-preventive-for-burnout-is-the-feeling/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“This is a little dirty secret of mental health economics: if you're depressed, you don't think you're worth the cost of treatment. You feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/this-is-a-little-dirty-secret-of-mental-health-economics-if-you-re/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“We know that infant rats who receive more licking and grooming from their mothers are less fearful and more intelligent as adults, have better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/we-know-that-infant-rats-who-receive-more-licking-and-grooming-from/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) [Explore all 22 Richard O'Connor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) ## More Nervous system quotes > [When it comes to having a central nervous system, and the ability to feel pain, hunger, and thirst, a rat is a pig is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/when-it-comes-to-having-a-central-nervous-system-and-the-ability-to/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Time is the nervous system of narration, whether factual or fictive. 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But we created a new central nervous system made of two brains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-nicolelis/it-s-not-telepathy-it-s-not-the-borg-but-we-created-a-new-central/) [Miguel Nicolelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-nicolelis/) > [Zoocentrism is the primary fallacy of human sociobiology, for this view of human behavior rests on the argument that if the actions of "lower"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/zoocentrism-is-the-primary-fallacy-of-human-sociobiology-for-this/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [The patterns of activity of neurons in sensory areas can be altered by patterns of attention. Experience coupled with attention leads to physical changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/the-patterns-of-activity-of-neurons-in-sensory-areas-can-be-altered/) [Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/) > [Torture takes over someone's nervous system. Torture takes over what they feel. Torture takes over and penetrates into their mind and into their body.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-danner/torture-takes-over-someone-s-nervous-system-torture-takes-over-what/) [Mark Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-danner/) > [ It was at Harvard not quite forty years ago that I went into an anechoic \[totally silent\] chamber not expecting in that silent room… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/it-was-at-harvard-not-quite-forty-years-ago-that-i-went-into-an/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [“To switch effectively from defense to social engagement strategies, the nervous system must do two things: (1) assess risk, and (2) if the environment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-w-porges/to-switch-effectively-from-defense-to-social-engagement-strategies/) [Stephen W. 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