I thought to myself, why is there a discrepancy between the person I am and the person it is within my power to be? I set goals for myself – keep up with news, make progress on my reading list, work out and eat healthy, etc. – and I’ll work toward them, but soon I’m back to sleeping in past noon and engaging in self-destructive activities.

Jonah Lehrer wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal late last year titled “Blame It on the Brain,” in which he equated willpower to a muscle. Traditional belief holds that the mind is boundless, but studies conducted in the past few decades suggest physiological limitations; the mind is, after all, governed by the brain. Lehrer uses the “willpower-as-muscle” metaphor to explain why New Year’s resolutions are so difficult to follow. Abruptly taking on five resolutions is similar to adding three hundred pounds to one’s max weight on a bench press: failure is to be expected. Willpower can be worn out from overuse just like a bicep, and increased brain function also requires additional energy which can leave one feeling fatigued (and hungry). But just as a muscle can be bulked up, so can willpower. Simplifying rather than multitasking, taking baby steps, and winning the little battles over mental weakness strengthen one’s will; “practicing mental discipline in one area, such as posture, can…make it easier to resist Christmas cookies.”

I’m a month and a half out of college, and since graduation I’ve spiraled into a routine of self-destruction. I’m not used to setting my own regiment, and I hadn’t realized until recently just how dangerous having full control over my life is for me. If I can’t meet these even these minor personal goals, I can’t imagine how I can succeed in any capacity. I function better when I have obligations to fulfill, so I’m going to try get back on the wagon by imposing a baby step of responsibility on myself to strengthen my willpower - a blog.

I like writing, so this will be an outlet to constructively indulge my intellectual curiosity. The title of this blog has no significance to the subject matter. You can expect to find posts concerning current events, science and technology, finance and economics, literature, sports, music, entertainment, fashion, art, internet culture, and anything else that peaks my interest, which will force me to stay on top of those interests in order to update. If anyone out there actually ends up frequenting this blog, I’d welcome feedback and suggestions; this isn’t supposed to be a journal. I’ll try and keep my posts well-informed and concise. This is probably the longest self-reflective entry I will have.

That’s all for now.