Philosophies on Self-Discipline: Lessons from History’s Greatest Thinkers on How to Start, Endure, Finish, & Achieve

We can then work on solving the problem intelligently, controlling our natural tendencies rather than being passively subject to their whims and having them control us.

Properly understanding and managing akrasia is fundamental, because it has the potential to undermine all our self-improvement efforts. You could work incredibly hard, gather all the necessary skills and mastery, commit to realistic goals and more, only to have the whole thing fall to pieces because you procrastinate right where it counts.

Other philosophers and behavioral psychologists have echoed Aristotle’s view that there are essentially two driving forces or kinds of motivation at work—and it’s perfectly possible for them to conflict. For example, one more rational, future-focused part of us genuinely wants to eat better, and another, more emotional, present-based part of us wants to eat the cake now. There is no contradiction, only the evidence of two different motivations that inspire our actions to different

We can all identify with this. It’s easy to commit to a new diet when you’re feeling inspired (i.e. you’ve focused on all the goodness and pleasure that comes from being slim, healthy, and energetic), but when faced with a slice of chocolate cake, you forget all that and focus instead on the goodness and pleasure that comes from your stuffing your face with it.

best interests speaks to a lack of self-discipline. So, according to Aristotle at least, the phenomenon of akrasia comes down to being either too passionate (a will overrun with emotion) or too weak (a will that isn’t strong enough).

The other type of akrasia, according to Aristotle, was down to a weak will. Rationally and intellectually comprehending the results of your behavior is one thing, but deliberately choosing against your

The term akrasia describes this phenomenon, and is from the Greek ἀκρασία, which means “lack of command.” Lack of command over what? Yourself. Plato asked the question in his dialogue Protagoras, wondering why a person who acknowledges that something is the best and most rational course of action would then still fail to do it

no assumptions about what will work. You might be happy to try a new diet/life philosophy/course, but know there is no such thing as a holy grail that will solve everything.