To Increase Willpower, Give in

In a famous study, participants smelled and were shown cookies but some were asked to eat radishes. Afterwards, the participants were asked to solve a puzzle. Radish eaters made far less attempts and took less than half the time to solve the puzzle vs. the chocolate-eating counterparts. In other words, those who exercised will power depleted it.

So if you want to increase will power, give in every once in a while.

Think Powerful - Be Powerful

Humans express power through open, expansive postures and express powerlessness through closed, contractive postures. Researchers asked if these postures actually create power? Studies revealed that high power nonverbal displays (vs low-power nonverbal displays) cause neuroendocrine and behavioral changes.

High-power posers elevated testosterone levels, decreased cortisol levels, and increased feelings of power and tolerance for risk (low-power posers exhibited the opposite). High-power displays caused "advantaged and adaptive psychological, physiological, and behavioral changes" suggesting "embodiment extends beyond mere thinking and feeling, to physiology and subsequent behavioral choices."

The research corroborates Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's ground breaking 1896 treatise of the relationship between body, mind and soul.

Need Will Power? Flex Your Muscles

The Journal of Consumer Research reports that flexing any body muscle can enhance one's will power.

In one study, those who tensed their calf muscles were more likely to drink more vinegar.

In another, a much larger percentage of people who clenched their fists were able to look at disturbing images of post-earthquake Haiti.

In another, subjects who tightened their fingers were more likely to choose healthful snacks than non-clenchers.