Reality 7: Willpower is like a muscle—it needs both training and rest. As we’ve discussed, much like muscles that become fatigued, mental willpower can become overworked and undernourished. Soldiers participating in sustained combat experience battle fatigue, which causes clouded thinking, lack of ability to control emotion, confusion, depression, and inhibited decision-making ability. So when you feel your willpower fading, be sure to rest and be willing to revisit your motivations once you’ve nourished your willpower muscles. Just don’t rest too long!
