Psychologists Greg Walton and Carol Dweck (author of a book I highly recommend: “Mindset: The new Psychology of Success”) argue the latter in a New York Times “Gray Matter” entry today. They refute social psychologist Roy F. Baumeister’s (author of “Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength”) point of view that willpower is the key, and that willpower is both limited and easily depleted. They assert that while food and rest are necessary for good brain function, our beliefs about our willpower are more powerful determinants of persistence than timely infusions of glucose.

I read both books through the lens of attention. Does our choice of what to focus on make a difference in our ability to persist through challenging tasks? I’ll share more of my thoughts in a later posting.

Focus -> Willpower: It’s in Your Head