Two Distinctly Different Forms Of Will

God willing is different than the will to win.

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BATTLE HARDENED

We all hear the speeches. The overtures made to convince others to work hard. The ability to seize the day is seen as some triumphant push through insurmountable odds. I hear the saying, “I am willing it into existence”. Some use the term “manifesting”.

Among modern society there appears to be a deep-rooted belief among many one’s will can change reality. Create its own desires. Draw infinite resources.

In truth, some people just get lucky.

There is no will that allows you to hit blackjack. There is no will to permit you entry into a venue when it is full. There is no such thing as willing yourself to victory if a bomb is dropping on you.

Even a broken clock tells the right time twice a day.

The battle-hardened person realizes will is more about acceptance than change. The best form of will is internal power which can never be affected by the outside world. The best form of will is not a measure of effect, it is a measure of resilience.

THE SHORT FORM OF WILL

In my experience, people who ascribe to the first form of will often find themselves running out of steam. This will is a sprint to the finish line. It is a motivation to push through when one is near exhaustion. It is that last desperate push to get to the goal line on fourth and one.

This will is an explosive burst of energy when there is none.

Throughout my personal life most people I met recognize short pushes when one is utterly exhausted as the only form of will. I call this exhausted burst an appropriate term called ‘Burst Will’.

The best form of will is internal power which can never be affected by the outside world.

This form of will is essentially a spark which starts a car when there are only fumes in the gas tank. Miraculously, the car starts off this spark. The spark drives the car that last mile before utterly giving out in the driveway. Metaphorically, this is Burst Will. Burst Will is a spark to carry you through when you stop short of the end goal and need one final push. I was taught this in sports, the military and martial arts.

Burst Will is useful, but it is not long-lasting. If deployed improperly at the wrong time Burst Will does not get you anywhere. It is a last-minute push not a spare hour resource. Most who call on it simply become a light which shines brightly for a moment only to immediately go out. Often, Burst Will is simply a teacher of how far you can go before exhaustion.

Burst Will draws immediate attention but often does not hold attention. We see this in miraculous throws at the end of a football game where the whole crowd gasps. Only to let their air out when no one catches the ball. Everyone shuffles out of the stadium to forget how the game ended three days later.

News flash. People often forget how the game was won a year later.

THE LONG FORM OF WILL

The long form of will is Sustained Willpower. It is a unique attribute which is fed by inner resilience. It is a quiet ember which burns despite whirlwind rumor gusts, life drenches and emotional tsunamis.

Burst Will is a spark to carry you through when you stop short of the end goal and need one final push.

Sustained Willpower shows its affects through acceptance, versatility, adaptability and creativity. When harnessed properly Sustained Willpower is a lighthouse guiding lost ships away from destructive rocks.

These destructive rocks take the form of external influences which deceive us into valuing outcome over effort.

Effort always takes care of results. I know no result which ever occurred through lack of effort. Not every effort will attain the results you desire. The irony is there is no result you desire which will ever come without effort.

Sustained Willpower is the bedrock of effort. It is something which one must cultivate if one is to succeed at life. For success is not the measure of one’s results. Success is the virtue one develops through the constant effort one makes to be the best version of oneself.

SHORT FORM IS SHORT LIVED

Sports events are notorious for harnessing Burst Will.

Often games come down to a single push, a last-minute catch or single sprint to home base. Despite our fandom, celebration and how we tend to relish these events — it is rare for someone to remember which team won, for instance, a World Series if it is not our specific team. This is true even if the person admits it was an awesome game, enjoyed it and even celebrated with other fans. This effect comes in fast.

Often, Burst Will is simply a teacher of how far you can go before exhaustion.

The study I used to draw this conclusion took two hundred participants and formed them into three sample groups. The study aimed to analyze memory reliability four years after the 2016 world series occurred. The study was conducted in 2020. Only 35.9% of active watchers remembered who won among non-fans. Almost one third of die-hard fans forgot what year their team won (29.7%). (2) This statistic held despite jaw dropping performance, loud applause and celebrations over what Burt Will is credited with creating.

What is Burst Will credited with? World Championships, Sales Trophies, MVP Awards, and other forms of recognition.

What this leading scholarly study suggests is the recognition most crave is often easily forgotten. The time in the spotlight which celebrates Burst Will is brief no matter the platform. I find this to hold true for all events. Whether this be an Oscar nomination, Emmy Award, or even my own Award Win for the December 2024 International Impact Award for my international bestselling book “I Made It Then I Didn’t. Most don’t even know I wrote a chapter in a book called “Many Paths To Profit” with stellar award winning best selling authors.

Everything is short lived which celebrates Burst Will. I was very accomplished despite my setbacks through Burst Will. It was all easily forgotten. This was sobering and taught me to seek something else. Something which will last for a millennium.

LONG FORM LASTS MILLIENNIA

Socrates, Plato, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius have inspired people nearly two thousand years from their time.

Epictetus was former slave turned stock philosopher who understood much about the concepts I write. Marcus Aurelius is credited as the godfather of stoic philosophy due to his book world acclaimed journal entitled “Mediations. I read this book frequently.

Everything is short lived which celebrates Burst Will.

These iconic individuals remembered thousands of years later are examples that which sustains over time is the effort to exhibit virtue not results. Sustained Willpower is the best compliment to virtue. For there is no virtue until you are tested with injustice, mistreatment, or belligerence. I find this a perfect pair for the religious pursuits of my faith. For in my faith all these virtues are encouraged and advocated.

THE TWO OPTIONS YOU ALWAYS HAVE

Throughout life we will encounter moments of great difficulty which will afflict significant adversity. For instance, I came under an indictment for allegations I knew were untrue. Similar to what I advocate I was confronted with two options.

Option one React. Meet Force with Force. Anger with more anger. Offense with claims of disrespect. Violence with more violence. Lies with retribution. Slander with deception.

Option two Respond. Meet Force with defensive resourcefulness. Anger with temperance. Offense with resilience of self-control. Violence with calculated misdirection. Lies with patience to watch the truth unfold. Slander with transparency.

ADVERSITY IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK

I more than anyone understand what adversity is. I am not a keyboard warrior. The virtues of who I am, by my God’s grace, is what permits me to not only survive but thrive. I have endured endless slander, endless pursuits to jail me unjustly and attempts by a very small group of people to punish me through a process in an effort to bankrupt me into submission. This was all after I risked my life and was threated to be killed by someone who seriously did not like me in front of a child I sought to protect from chaos. That is for another tale.

These iconic individuals remembered thousands of years later are examples that which sustains over time is the effort to exhibit virtue not results.

I have chosen to more than endure. I have chosen to draw upon the Long Form of Will to exhibit virtues most do not understand. I chose Sustained Willpower. The virtues I exhibit are real. They are not fictional. In a world of perceptions and false social media highlights it is rare to see a genuine person. The more you seek to exhibit tangible virtue the more you become what the world values. 

An individual who shows temperance, self control, restraint, and empathy to forgive others is well liked. Specifically if these virtues are displayed through offenses by insisting no disrespect or embarrassment can come from those who provide them opportunity. The opportunity this person has is one to showcase their persistent drive and commitment to resilience. This shows unshakable reliability and commitment. This person not only uses the attacks to benefit themselves but in fact uses those very attacks as the very basis to illustrate to the world who they actually are.

Virtue is only capable of being illustrated when your crisis arises. One cannot be calm if there is no storm. One cannot have self-restraint if not provoked under extraordinary circumstances. One cannot be gracious if not mistreated horrendously.

ONE THING TO NEVER FORGET

Everyone forgets the reactions to option one. No one admires the lack of virtue one exhibits during reactions. 

Everyone takes note of the responses in option two. Everyone admires how those who respond do so in ways most are not capable of.

I do not wish my personal circumstances on anyone. It is for this reason that now I am the ultimate authority on what not to do. My much-anticipated new book “Turning Indictments To Dollars” talks about how to avoid the pitfalls I suffered. If you are accused of something you know you didn’t do — this book will offer you the path which grants you success. Trust me you will want to Sign up for free during the pre-release period to take advantage of unique $0.99 pricing on launch.

Sign up for free to listen free of charge to my chapter in “Many Paths To Profit”. You can pick up a copy of my international best-selling and award winning book, “I Made It Then I Didn’t” as well for a deeper insight.

The concept I teach in this article is free. Some of my personal stories are not free of charge as everything costs something. Do not pass your opportunity to show the virtues which you have. They are treasures not available for free but through the cost of intense emotional states.

To Your Knowledge Success!

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Sources

1)      The life of Christopher Knight Lopez a Professional Hustler turned International Best Seller and Published Author of “I Made It Then I Didn’t”.

2)      Memory. “Remembering the big game: social identity and memory for media events”. Clinton Mercka, Jeremy K. Yamashiro b and William Hirsta. 2020 Vol 28, No. 6 795-814

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Not a form of investment advice. Please consult a professional registered to give you advice about your individual circumstance. This article is for educational purposes and entertainment purposes only. Please do not email the author about advice on investing or strategies on making investments.

About Christopher: Christopher Knight Lopez is a Professional Hustler turned International Best Seller, Award Winner of the December 2024 prestigious International Impact Book Awards — a premier award program dedicated to celebrating and recognizing the exceptional work of authors around the globe and Published Author of “I Made It Then I Didn’t”. He is also a Co-Author with Kevin “The Shark” Harrington “Many Paths To Profit”. Christopher has opened over 7 businesses in his 15-year career. Christopher’s purpose is to take advantage of various market-driven opportunities. Christopher is a certified Master Project Manager (MPM), and Accredited Financial Analyst (AFA). Christopher previously held his Series 65 securities license examination and was a Master Financial Planner (MFP). Christopher also held his General Lines — Life, Accident, Health & HMO. Christopher has managed a combined 286mm USD in reported Assets Under Management & Assets Under Advisement. Christopher has work experience in 33 countries, raised over 50mm USD for various businesses, and grossed over 13.0mm in his personal career. Christopher worked in the highly technical industries of: biotechnology, finance, securities, manufacturing, real estate, and residential mortgages. Christopher is a United States Air Force Veteran. Christopher has a passion for family, competitive sports, fishing, martial arts and advocacy for entrepreneurs. Christopher provides self-help classes for up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Christopher’s passion to mentor comes from belief that entrepreneurs need guidance. The world is full of conflicting information about entrepreneur identity. See more at www.christopherklopez.com.