How to Increase Willpower?
Mental conditioning is a process of working with your mind. It is similar to strength and conditioning training, however, in mental conditioning, you aim to control your mind and develop skills that I call “mental abilities”.
The work itself does not solely relate to the mindset but the mindset is also included. Mental conditioning allows you to take control over what happens inside your head. It can not only enable you to overcome your fears but also use advanced meditation techniques to control your brain, nervous system, breathing rate, pulse, body temperature, your subconsciously engraved habits, and even your whole paradigm.
Certain meditation techniques allow one to control the body’s physiological response to external stimuli. That includes stress. By controlling the stress response, a person can drastically improve their recovery, and performance on the field or at the gym and become a being that we could call a contemporary ninja.
A contemporary ninja is a person who is capable of managing their body and mind. Such adept does not fear pain, failure or even death. To become a contemporary ninja means to overcome one’s deepest fears and desires, that is to overcome the ego. The ego is usually well hidden from the conscious mind. It belongs in the unconscious part of your psyche. It is generally thought that this part of the psyche is out of human control but experienced adepts know the psychological techniques to command their brain simply by using their willpower.
Willpower Meaning
Willpower is the ability to consciously direct your focus towards a certain thought so efficiently that it manifests itself in real life or should I rather say in the physical realm. People with strong willpower usually have well-developed self-control skills. Whatever means necessary, willpower will point your spirit, mind, and body towards achieving set goals. You might not even know that deep down, you are subconsciously acting in a way that is intended to make your wishes come true. Some of them might be positive, some of them might be negative so the process is not always enjoyable but one thing is certain, whatever gets engraved in your subconscious mind, becomes a thought-form that feeds on your energy and attention. Some advanced adepts devoted to the way of chaos magick call those though-forms “servitors”. Those adepts are able to split their personality into many semi-conscious, independent parts and command all of them to take care of clearly specified goals. It can be compared to having a computer operating system consisting of many applications and processes each of them working on different tasks.
A mage is not someone who wears a cape. A mage is someone who is able to control their body, mind and spirit to a point that his doings are thought to be of a magickal nature and speaking of that, the word “occult” comes from Latin “scientia occulta” which translates to “science of that which remains hidden”. In truth, the occult includes common psychology…
An example of practical use of mental conditioning would be to hypnotizing oneself, just as Eddie Hall did while breaking the world deadlift record by lifting 500kg. Deep concentration on imaginary scenes allowed him to “trick” his mind and believe that they are real which in turn, enabled him to express his true strength and pull the weight he would not be able to lift under normal circumstances. Another example could be using breathing and meditation techniques to slow down one’s heart rate and alleviate stress response by reducing cortisol secretion or taking control over the autonomous nervous system to increase body temperature.
Although most of these skills remain taboo, contemporary science has begun to discover much more than we, as human species, previously thought was possible. It does seem like some of the skills that I mentioned are thought to be gimmicks by the sceptics but in reality, they have been practised by monks for centuries and that was long before contemporary science even existed.
To sum up, as a practitioner, I must say that science is yet to fully develop and just because others don’t understand certain topics, does not mean that they don’t exist.
So What Is Mental Conditioning?
Mental conditioning is a process of training the mind to develop positive and empowering beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors. It is a practice that involves developing mental toughness, resilience, and focus, and can be applied to a wide range of contexts, including sports, business, and personal development. Mental conditioning involves a variety of techniques and practices, such as visualization, self-talk, goal setting, and mindfulness, among others.
One of the primary goals of mental conditioning is to help individuals develop a growth mindset, which is the belief that abilities and talents can be developed through hard work and dedication. Individuals with a growth mindset are more likely to embrace challenges and persist through difficulties, as they see them as opportunities for growth and learning. Mental conditioning can help individuals develop a growth mindset by helping them to identify and challenge limiting beliefs and replace them with positive, empowering beliefs.
Another key aspect of mental conditioning is developing emotional regulation skills. Emotions can be powerful drivers of behavior, and if left unchecked, they can lead to impulsive or harmful actions. Mental conditioning can help individuals learn to identify their emotions and manage them in a healthy and productive way. This might involve techniques such as mindfulness or deep breathing, which can help individuals stay calm and centered even in the face of strong emotions.
Visualization is another powerful technique used in mental conditioning. Visualization involves imagining oneself succeeding in a particular task or situation. By visualizing success, individuals can develop greater confidence and focus, and can prepare themselves mentally for the challenges they will face. Visualization can also be used to improve skills or performance by imagining oneself practicing or performing at a high level.
Self-talk is another important component of mental conditioning. Self-talk refers to the internal dialogue that individuals have with themselves, which can have a powerful impact on their emotions, beliefs, and behaviors. Positive self-talk involves using affirmations and positive statements to reinforce positive beliefs and behaviors. Negative self-talk, on the other hand, can reinforce negative beliefs and behaviors and can undermine confidence and motivation.
Goal-setting is also an important component of mental conditioning. Goals provide direction and purpose, and can help individuals stay motivated and focused on their objectives. Mental conditioning can help individuals develop SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals and break them down into smaller, more manageable steps. By setting and achieving goals, individuals can build their confidence and sense of control over their lives.
In summary, mental conditioning is a process of training the mind to develop positive and empowering beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors. It involves a variety of techniques and practices, such as visualization, self-talk, goal setting, and mindfulness. Mental conditioning can help individuals develop a growth mindset, emotional regulation skills, and greater confidence and focus, among other benefits. By developing these skills, individuals can improve their overall well-being and achieve greater success in their personal and professional lives.
