I am thrilled to share with you a guest blog post by Dr. Parnell Donahue.  Enjoy.

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Interesting article in this morning’s paper about will power. The investigators found that people who thought will power was limited and could be used up, had less will power than those who thought will power was unlimited!

After reading it I wanted to say, “Well, duh.” But I had just told my wife that I did not want peanut butter for my English muffin because I didn’t have the will power to avoid eating a “cup of it.” I just love extra-crunchy peanut butter, and when I start eating it I usually eat far too much. But it’s not a matter of will power; I just decide to eat too much of it because I love the way it tastes.

I have had plenty of experience with will power, (as well as won’t power). I quit smoking “cold turkey” more than 40 years ago because my 5 y/o son said he didn’t want me to get cancer. He had seen the news items on the Surgeon Generals report on smoking and lung cancer. I had “tried” to quit many, many times before, but had always gone back to cigarettes after a couple of weeks or months. I went back because I wanted to go back – I liked the way cigarettes tasted –  not because I didn’t have enough will power. When my reason was great enough, I found the will power.

Could anyone train to be a successful athlete with limited will power? Who could work two jobs with limited will power? With limited will power wouldn’t most anybody quit the second job? I don’t think a person with limited will power could ever get through college, let alone medical school! Who could stay awake and work 40 hours or more with limited will power?

The amount of will power depends on why that person needed to do what he thinks is difficult. If it were to support a family, or another passionate cause, the will power would be there; if it were to buy a condo on the beach the quiting would be easier than continuing the work.

We know that the will is controlled by the intellect and that if the intellect presents the facts that show the value of the deed, then the will, will choose to go the extra mile. So, if I found out that peanut butter caused cancer of the pancreas (which it does not), I would find the will power to avoid it. However, if it caused red discoloration on my back-side I know I would run around with a crimson butt!

Forty years of pediatric experience have taught Dr. Parnell Donahue that the unique perspective of teens is an invaluable resource for parents who want their children to become men and women of character.

His often frank discussions with teenagers cover topics familiar to parents – drugs, sex, suicide, medical care, financial responsibility, self-image, religion, even the importance of being nice – but with the added benefit of revealing how teens feel about these and other subjects, and what teens perceive their parents feel about those same issues.

Visit him on his website at:  http://www.messengersindenim.com/