Ulysses, the hero of the Greek legend “The Odyssey”, famously tied himself to his ship’s mast so as not to fall prey to the tempting songs of the Sirens and steer on to the waiting rocks. A Ulysses pact is a form of “commitment device”, a decision you make in the now to bind you in the future. A commitment device allows your “cold” rationale mind to exert control even when your “hot” emotional mind is triggered. The wise, the successful, consistently choose long-term benefit over short-term immediate gratification.

Commitment devices make it easier, less trouble, to do the good habit than to do the bad habit.

Commitment devices are many, from not carrying credit cards to automatic deduct savings/401k plans to not keeping junk food in the house. One of my favorites is at restaurants to ask that half my meal be boxed up AND not brought out until I ask for the check (just doing the 1st half hasn’t worked 100% of time!).

Closing Quotes:

“Don’t give up what you want most for what you want now.” – Proverb

“The key to self-discipline is to arrange your life so that you have little need of it.” – NSC

“The junk food you’ve craved for an hour or the body you’ve wanted for a lifetime: your choice.” – Unknown

“Willpower isn’t something handed to you at birth; it is a skill nurtured and developed like any other through patient study, repetition, and practice.” – NSC

As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier