🌱 This is 100x easier than willpower

3 insights. 3 minutes. To help you think clearer, connect deeper, and do work you're proud of.

Personal update: Last few months, I’m experiencing a new level of growth (personally & professionally). More on this soon, but very related to the insights below.

✅ Want > Willpower

Let’s play a game.

Tell me what you want? What you really, really want?

I’ll tell you what I want. (What I really really want...)

Okay, that was a Spice Girls song. But the point will make sense in a second.

See, most people think they need more effort.

But the real unlock?

Momentum.

But here’s the crazy (and best) part. Momentum doesn’t come from pushing harder.

It comes from listening to what you already want.

Doing what you “want” is 100x easier than forcing what you think you “should” be doing.

Not only easier… but more effective. (Trust me, I still “should” myself a lot and it doesn’t do anything but exhaust me.)

Here are a few real examples from my life, which might help you spot a “want” in your own:

❌ I didn’t force myself into fitness.
✅ I want to run outside by the lake and feel post run bliss and hang with friends.

❌ I didn’t force myself to “network” (yuck).
✅ I wanted to attend and host more events in Austin and feel connected.

❌ I didn’t force myself to start writing online.
✅ I wanted to clarify my thinking and remember what I was learning (to feel clarity and confidence).

In other words, willpower is a myth.

Here’s a real example from the last 2 minutes. I was struggling writing this section. I was feeling stuck and wanted to feel lighter. So I asked myself, “how can I make this 10% more fun/funny”?. Then I just added the Spice Girls opener (while giggling outloud to myself).

What do you want?

🧠 One-Sentence Truth

“Discipline is remembering what you want.”

— David Campbell

Not forcing. Just returning to what matters: what you want.

🧪 Micro-Experiment

Pick one thing on your to-do list.

Now ask: “Do I actually want to do this?”

If the answer is no—what would feel 10% more fun, energizing, or meaningful?

Want to learn more about want vs should?

Check out this excellent episode from Joe Hudson: Want Over Should. (but only if you want to!)

Much love,
Mitchell