Banging On About ‘Will’.

Do Contribute | Creativity

Do Lectures
Sep 6, 2018 · 6 min read
Photo by Kelly Sikkema

There’s something happens to us all, now and then. You hear a new word or come across an idea. You duly take note of it; tell yourself it’s well worth remembering; then, seemingly, whichever you turn, you can’t but fail to hear the word or see the ‘new’ idea being referenced in some newsfeed or blog post. Which, of course, immediately brings to mind the old ‘boxing’ axiom:

If you’re not there, it can’t hit you.

That ‘instance’ about stumbling across something ‘new’ and then coming across it, again and again, ad nauseamis such a well-known occurrence it’s been given a name. Frequency illusion. Which, in turn, is defined as the on-going cognitive bias that results when your mind, in its continuing effort to serve you, deviates from rational thought and starts seeing patterns where none exist.

Frequency Illusion

Selective attention and confirmation bias.

A heady mix, by any standard.

All of which must come as welcome reassurance to those of us forever afflicted by frequency illusion, as it seems to indicate:

Nil desperandum

As to your underlying state of mind, you are not alone and, very likely, never will be.

My most recent case of frequency illusion has all been to do with the idea of ‘will’, but in a very particular instance:

How ‘will’ is severely overrated and how people continue to have wrong notions about it.

Post after post after post, and not all from the same source. And a whole slate of newly minted books that aim to disparage the effectiveness of ‘will’. (‘Springes to catch woodcocks’as the great Will, himself, indeed, once said.) Each proclaiming, in so many words, how having ‘will’ or attempting to practice ‘will’, or even helping to inspire ‘will’ in others can prove severely detrimental to one and all.

What a lot of old codswallop… or, rather, newly minted pigswill.

Where There’s A Will There’s A Way.

And if there’s no way forward, given that every single person and /or thing on the planet wants to grow, one’s obviously gone about things the wrong way, and needs must look further. The very same thinking at the core of every post-modern entrepreneur’s favourite maxim:

Fail often; fail fast.

The one irreducible:

The ‘will’ to do… and to keep on doing.

Quick one for you:

Much time equals little will. Little time equals much will.

Or how about:

I will.

The statement of intent, in the marriage ceremony, recognised, lauded and applauded the world over; an affirmation that has the same standing in law as an oath. As in:

Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth; so help you God.

I do.

“I will” and “I do” both say ‘Yes’. Whereas ‘will’, in almost every instance, is what you say ‘No’ to; what you will not have; will not do; will not accept.

Two, quick stories I hope will inspire further thought, both of which concern examples of the enlightened ‘will’ of a man I was once lucky enough to call my ‘teacher’. Please make of them what you will:

It Was A Dark And Stormy Night

Same bloke. Different ‘Will-o’-The-Wisp’ Story.

Akin, in so many ways, to the simple, but very useful practice of ‘sleeping on a problem’; the trouble being, of course, that most people forget to remember to even ask their brain to please come up with a solution, come morning. A little habit; that if you ever do remember to remember to practice; may well surprise and delight you. Especially when you see just how often your exceptionally clever little brain delivers a truly excellent solution and drops it right into your lap, as it were; but, again, only if you’re consciously prepared to receive it.

As for the practice of ‘driving into a problem’ it became so effective that if ever my old ‘teacher’ was faced with some seemingly insurmountable problem, even if comfortably ensconced in his study, he’d get the car out of the garage and drive around the country lanes, as many times as was necessary; determined as ever to have a solution to whatever new problem he had by the time he arrived home again. As ever, working as closely as possible with the most magnificent tool in his toolbox — his very own brainbox.

And, again, all purely to demonstrate to himself, his ever present ‘will’ to succeed.

Not Against: With.

We dance round in a ring and suppose, But the secret sits in the middle and knows.

And also something he said later:

My aim in life has always been to hold my own with whatever’s going. Not against: with.

And, then, of course:

The only way out is through.

To which, in this particular instance, one might add: and the ‘will’ to do.

So now a two-part question for you:

Do you have the ‘will’ to do?

Do you have the ‘will’ not to do?

Either way, I promise you, you’ll find a little ‘will’ goes a very long way.

*Now about that asterisk: From William Carlos Williams’s Asphodel, That Greeny Flower: It is difficult / to get the news from poems / yet men die miserably every day / for lack / of what is found there.


Tony Broadbent

Creativity

Tony Broadbent

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