7 Practical Steps to Strengthen Willpower and Achieve Goals
Willpower is
the primary driving force of the human being and the backbone of any personal
or professional success. It enables a person to control their desires, supports
them in standing firm before obstacles and overcoming them, helps them face
difficulties, and continue moving toward their goals despite challenges. Islam
has provided human beings with practical tools and foundations to strengthen
willpower through self-discipline, patience, and self-control. When a person
chooses strength, Allah strengthens them; when they choose steadfastness,
causes support them. Allah says: “As for those
who struggle in Our cause, We will surely guide them along Our Way. And Allah
is certainly with the good-doers.” (Al-‘Ankabut
29:69)
Willpower alone
does not create miracles; rather, it is a driving force to take the means of
success so that a person aligns with the laws of Allah in the management of His
universe. This is how the Prophet (peace be upon him) acted: he would take the means as though he knew no
other way, and he would rely upon Allah as though he knew no means. Indeed,
part of true reliance upon Allah is taking the means fully. Allah says: “so move about in its regions and eat from His provisions.” (Al-Mulk 67:15)
Seeking provision is required. And Allah says: “O
believers! Take your precautions.” (An-Nisa’
4:71)
Taking precautions through means is required along with complete reliance upon
Allah. And Allah says: “Prepare against them
what you ˹believers˺ can of ˹military˺ power and cavalry.” (Al-Anfal 8:60)
All of this
requires a prior will and an inner moral restraint from the self in order for
the desired success to be achieved, bearing in mind that: “Willpower is not
merely a fleeting feeling, but rather a gradual process through which the self
can be trained to reach goals.” [1]
Toward
developing, controlling, and nurturing willpower
1 – Defining
goals clearly
Islam taught
its followers to be clear in their goals so they can determine the appropriate
means to reach them. For example, the highest goal of the Muslim is attaining
the pleasure of Allah, salvation from the Fire, and entry into Paradise. If
this goal is clear in the Muslim’s awareness, they will strive toward it
seriously by doing all that pleases Allah and avoiding what angers Him. When
the goal is set clearly before a person’s eyes, the means will likewise become
clear and lead to that goal, and their willpower will be sharpened to align
with reaching it. Thus, the first step in strengthening willpower is knowing
exactly what you want, because a vague goal weakens motivation, while a clear
goal gives the mind focused direction and reduces internal resistance.
Practical
application:
Write goals down on
paper, divide them into short- and long-term goals, and review them
periodically. For example, if the goal is to become a successful and strong
translator, the first step is enrolling in a faculty of languages and
translation as an initial milestone. Then, not settling for high grades alone,
but enrolling in training courses that deepen knowledge as a subsequent
milestone, and so on. Allah says: “Tell ˹them, O
Prophet˺,
‘Do
as you will. Your deeds will be observed by Allah, His Messenger, and the believers.’” (At-Tawbah 9:105)
“Defining the goal is the fundamental step in igniting willpower, as it links
desire to actual action.” [2]
2 – Breaking
goals into small steps
Large goals may
seem difficult or impossible, especially at the beginning or when surrounding
circumstances are challenging. Therefore, they should be broken down into
achievable or easier goals which, when combined, lead to the larger goal.
Breaking them into manageable tasks reduces pressure and enhances the sense of
continuous achievement, which strengthens willpower and motivates persistence.
Practical
application:
If the goal is learning a new language, one can begin with 15 minutes a day,
more or less depending on ability, then gradually increase the time. Similarly,
if someone wants to memorize the entire Quran, looking at the goal from afar
magnifies its difficulty. But if it is divided across the months of the
year—such as memorizing one juz’ per month—or across weeks—such as a quarter or
half a hizb per week—the goal becomes easier. With this division, the first
week begins easily, and what follows becomes easier still. Stephen Covey says:
“Breaking goals into small steps maintains motivation and increases the
likelihood of achievement.” [3]
3 – Practicing
self-discipline daily
Willpower is
strengthened through continuous practice of discipline, whether in time management, nutrition, or work
habits. Discipline turns behaviors into fixed habits that reduce the daily need
for mental effort to resist temptations.
Practical
application:
Create a daily schedule for tasks, commit to specific times for work and rest,
and reward yourself upon completion. Dr. Ibrahim Al-Feki says: “Daily
discipline is the primary fuel of willpower and self-control.”
4 – Challenging
the self and going beyond comfort
People of high
determination throughout history never made comfort their path, nor did their
souls ever truly rest, nor did they surrender to laziness or excessive sleep at
the expense of their lofty dreams and goals. This does not mean abandoning
sleep entirely, but rather organizing time so that work and rest do not
overlap. One should sleep early and begin the day before dawn so that Allah
blesses their time. The Prophet (peace be upon him) supplicated for his Ummah, saying: “O Allah, bless
my Ummah in their early mornings.” (Reported by As-Suyuti).
Excessive comfort weakens willpower, while continuous challenge strengthens it.
Facing difficult situations or demanding tasks develops psychological
resilience and increases self-confidence.
Practical
application:
Try new things, take on greater responsibilities, or commit to healthy habits
that are difficult at first, such as sleeping early, waking early, and eating
healthy food. “Willpower is built by overcoming obstacles, not by avoiding
them.” [4]
5 –
Self-monitoring and continuous evaluation
Self-awareness is an
essential element in strengthening willpower. A person must constantly review
their progress toward goals and evaluate their performance. Goals are not
achieved suddenly at the end of the road. For example, if you want to travel
from Cairo to Kuwait, you know in advance that the flight takes approximately
three hours. As the plane moves, you monitor the time remaining. After one
hour, logically two hours remain; after two hours, one hour remains. But if
three hours pass and you have not arrived, then logically something is
wrong—perhaps you boarded the wrong plane or the pilot deviated from the route.
It would be illogical to simply wait indefinitely without reviewing the
situation. This illustrates the meaning of self-review and continuous evaluation:
every goal has indicators that show whether you are on the correct path.
Applying this to the ultimate goal of entering Paradise, a person must
continually review their path to ensure they are heading in the right
direction. Allah says: “O believers! Be mindful
of Allah and let every soul look to what ˹deeds˺ it has sent forth for tomorrow.” (Al-Hashr
59:18)
This approach prevents deviation from the path and allows immediate correction
of mistakes.
Practical
application:
Allocate weekly time to review achievements, identify obstacles, and create a
plan to overcome them. Dr. Ibrahim Al-Feki says: “Periodic self-review is the
means to strengthening willpower and preventing deviation from goals.”
6 – Using smart
incentives and rewards
Motivating the
self with small rewards after completing tasks enhances continuity. The Quran
uses motivation in addressing believers. Allah says: “Whoever comes with a good deed will be rewarded tenfold.” (Al-An`am 6:160)
This is a reward for a single good deed multiplied tenfold, serving as
encouragement and continuous motivation for righteous deeds. Linking
achievement with reward creates a positive cycle that reinforces
self-discipline.
Practical
application:
Give yourself leisure time after completing a difficult task, or buy something
simple upon reaching a certain goal.
7 – Balance
between willpower and flexibility
Strength does
not mean harshness toward oneself, but rather combining determination with
flexibility to overcome mistakes and failure—which are inevitable—without
despair. Only flexible trees withstand strong storms, not rigid ones.
Psychological flexibility prevents collapse upon failure and enhances the
ability to continue.
Practical
application:
If you fail to adhere to a routine, adjust the schedule instead of withdrawing
completely. And heed the words of Allah: “So
endure ˹this
denial, O Prophet,˺ with beautiful patience.” (Al-Ma`arij
70:5)
In conclusion, willpower is not an innate trait alone, but a skill
that can be acquired and developed through awareness, application, and daily
training.
Read Also:
-
Success Through Dedication and Hard work in Islamic Teachings
-
5 Habits for a Healthier Life from Prophet’s ﷺ Sunnah
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Footnotes:
[1] Willpower
and Personal Motivation by Dr. Ibrahim El-Fiky, p. 34.
[2] The
previous reference, p. 42.
[3] The
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, p. 88.
[4] Napoleon
Hill, Think and Grow Rich, p. 102.
