What It Means To Have A Sense Of Will And How It Relates To Mental Health

When you hear someone described as having the “will to succeed,” you may think of them as a fiery and determined person fueled by inner strength. This is the form of the word “will” we’ll be discussing here: “the power to choose one’s actions.” It may be helpful to think of will as being rooted in personal agency. Your will is generally what drives your ability to make choices about your own life based on what you want and feel is best. Understanding your own sense of will and how to strengthen and wield it can help prepare you to face obstacles in life and can even be tied to mental health in some ways.. 

Note that in this article, we’ll focus on the concept of “will” as a personal ability. Still, it’s interesting to note that the word may also be used to describe a legal document outlining a person’s wishes for their personal property and assets once they’ve passed on. Although it’s different from the sense of will we’ll discuss below, the driving force of personal agency is behind both meanings of the term.

Defining a sense of will

Understanding what it means to have or use a sense of will can help you understand how to leverage it in your own life. First, let’s discuss the difference between two separate but related terms: willpower and free will.

Will versus willpower

Though “will” and “willpower” are sometimes used interchangeably, the two have slightly different meanings. “Will” generally describes your desire or inclination to do a particular thing, while “willpower” can be viewed as your ability to continue doing something in the face of distractions, temptations, or adversity—usually in order to reach a longer-term goal. “Will” is more synonymous with desire or intent, while “willpower” is more synonymous with determination or self-control. Though both can be important characteristics and are often intertwined, they are distinct. Some quick examples can help illustrate the difference between the two:

• Jane has the will to devise a business plan, and she hopes to have the willpower to face the challenges that arise when opening a new business.
• Joe willed himself to keep running, utilizing willpower to fight through the aching in his muscles.

Will versus free will

Similar to “will” and “willpower,” both “will” and “free will” are often used interchangeably. Given that we’ve defined “will” as the power to choose one’s actions, we can think of “free will” as the ability to make these choices independently.

Free will is often considered a fundamental human right. This ability to form one’s own opinions and make independent decisions can grant people the freedom to live the kind of lives they desire, regardless of how they stack up against dominant societal expectations. Free will can be thought of as the ability to think for oneself, with will being the force that allows you to enact these decisions that you’ve decided are right for you.

Why is will important?

No matter who you are, there are times in life when things get difficult. You may experience a personal loss, financial troubles, job loss, or another significant change that makes your daily life more challenging. Or, you could experience temptations or distractions on the road to achieving a long-term goal. Will—particularly when combined with free will and willpower—is an ability and a practice that can allow you to take action to move forward in a positive direction in the face of these setbacks.

Willpower, like will, can also be an important ability to cultivate in oneself to get through hard times or to reach goals. One 2011 survey revealed that 27% of Americans believed that a lack of willpower was the main barrier that kept them from achieving the things they wanted in life. However, recent research suggests that simply believing that you have a high level of willpower and that you can build more may be a key factor in being able to exert it.

Similarly, becoming aware of the concept of free will and examining your life to see where you might be living for or under the influence of others instead of doing what’s best for you could be helpful. In the end, remember that only you can make the right decisions for your own well-being.

Will and mental health

Both will and willpower may be important factors for reaching goals and leading a fulfilling life. Studies suggest that setting and reaching goals can have significant positive effects on mental health, and both of these abilities can help in this process. As you work toward improving these abilities in yourself, you may feel inclined to pressure or force yourself to be more disciplined or motivated. However, this kind of punitive, “tough love” approach may not be an effective way to improve. It can damage self-esteem and make it even more challenging to feel the confidence you may need to succeed. Even without this approach, low confidence or self-esteem can make exerting one’s will more challenging. 

Instead, it can be helpful—and most beneficial for your mental health—to practice self-compassion and focus on incremental progress. As research on the topic suggests, self-compassion is associated with positive mental health and decreased pathology, and incremental progress can build trust in yourself and create forward momentum.

It’s also worth noting that certain mental health conditions and challenges may affect a person’s sense of will and/or willpower. For example, many people living with depression find it hard to gather the will to engage in self-care or socialize because common symptoms include fatigue and a lack of interest in activities once enjoyed. Or, consider that people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a form of neurodivergence, may experience impulsivity as a result of their unique brain structures, which could manifest as trouble with willpower and self-control in some situations. Seeking the support of a therapist can be beneficial for anyone who is experiencing challenges related to will or willpower, whether they’re living with a mental health condition or not.

Seeking online therapy to improve personal will

There are many reasons a person may decide to seek professional mental health support. Some begin therapy because they want to work through a past trauma; others pursue it to get treatment for symptoms of a mental health condition. Still others may seek therapy to work toward improving a particular trait or part of their life—such as their sense of will or willpower.

If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.

Sometimes, a lack of will or motivation may be due to low self-esteem or self-confidence. It can be hard to feel motivated to reach a goal if you don’t believe you can actually do it. However, many therapeutic interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can be effective ways to increase self-esteem and, in turn, increase will and willpower.

Regardless of your reason for seeking it, if you’re looking for a therapy format that is convenient, doesn’t require a commute or waiting rooms, and that you can engage in from the comfort of home, online sessions could be worth exploring. Online therapy can be equally effective as in-person therapy, as recent research suggests, and it may also be a more comfortable and less intimidating option for anyone who is just beginning their therapy journey or who feels nervous about speaking with a provider in person. With a platform like BetterHelp, you can get matched with a licensed therapist in a matter of days who you can then meet with via phone, video call, and/or in-app messaging to discuss the challenges you may be facing.