Today, I am thankful for the notion of willpower.
The 19th Century German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, once quipped, “That which does not kill you makes you stronger.” The tenet is founded on the principle that perseverance, especially in a troubled or trying time, builds inner strength and resolve that allows one to cope more effectively with the next crisis. Admittedly, Nietzsche’s philosophical teachings are not something I routinely value. His nihilistic viewpoints that ‘God is dead’ and religion serves no true purpose flies in the face of faith and goodwill for humanity. Moreover, his principle of a ‘will to power’ attests that the key drive to the success of any person is some subversive desire to suppress others so that he/she might rise to influence. Finally, certain dictatorial leaders have misused his concept of a ‘super man’ as rationale to allow one race to ride a wave to ultimate power and, in turn, suppress others in its wake. Ironically, Nietzsche never really followed his own creed that those events that do not kill you will afford you strength. In his own lifetime, he suffered a mental collapse that rendered him somewhat catatonic and incapacitated in the last decade of his life, prior to his early demise at the age of 56.
Yet, the principle behind the adage noted above, at least in my humble estimation, has some credence. The fundamental principle behind Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution holds that only the fittest will survive, and, thus, teaching the power of resiliency to our children and colleagues is a tough, but necessary lesson in life – even if the pill is sometimes a bit bitter to swallow. As parents, we routinely teach our offspring to persevere and learn from the failures, whether it’s from a lackluster grade on a Physics exam, the heartbreaking loss in a Little League baseball playoff game, or the denial of admittance at the prestigious college of one’s choice. In fact, studies suggest that those who exhibit grit in the face of obstacles are often the ones who will eventually rise to success.
So, I guess the principle that Nietzsche should have proclaimed was the power of will, not the will of power. Willpower is that sense of self-control, or steadfast determination, we all wish we had in abundant supply. We all aspire to maintain a healthy lifestyle devoid of societal ills like tobacco and illicit drugs. We all aspire to make the right choices that we will enable us to maintain both physical and mental wellbeing. We all aspire towards a high-paying career that will allow us to enjoy our retirement in comfort and without financial worries. However, the ability to maintain a nutritious diet, exercise daily, and work diligently to complete our work assignments in a timely manner (without a twinge of procrastination or laziness) is not easy. Self-discipline is often challenged when the demanding stressors of life – a sick child, a demanding boss, or a worldwide viral pandemic – rear their ugly heads. Nevertheless, one’s ability to stay on the predefined path with adherence to a daily calorie count, exercise regimen, meditation program, or work ethic will reap long-term rewards, even in the face of a temporary external stressor.
I’m reminded of the reality competition, American Idol, where aspiring singers from around the nation gather and compete to be recognized as the next, great ‘unsung’ hero. The premise to the show is simple. Across the nation, eligible participants audition locally with the hope of being selected to enter into a series of competitive, grueling rounds where they must demonstrate their singing capabilities in front of several somewhat obnoxious judges and the voting American public. On this day (Sept 4) in 2002, a 20-year old cocktail waitress from Forth Worth, Texas, named Kelly Clarkson, was selected by an adoring public as the winner of the first American Idol. With a signing contract in hand, Kelly Clarkson has gone to on to have a successful music career with 8 albums, several Grammy Awards, and her own variety talk show. Of all her songs, none resonates more with me than the 3 minute and 42 second ditty that tops my exercise playlist on Apple Music. In the song Stronger, Kelly reminds me that sometimes heart-breaking despair allows one to rise up and face the next challenge with a bit more resilience and gusto.
Indeed, as the chorus of Stronger notes, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’. So, even if I’m not a wild fan of the work of Friedrich Nietzsche, at least I can readily acknowledge that his prescient words will help me fight to the bitter end, or at least give me enough willpower to survive my next exercise routine.
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