Willing Power: Why Willpower is Important

Yes, the 2024-2025 new academic year has begun. At home, we’ve been feeling the excitement of starting a new school year in 2nd grade for a few days now. Although Deniz and Nehir might be excited too, I might be even more thrilled. I wonder if we made a good choice for them, whether they will adapt to the new environment, connect with their teachers, and feel like their new classrooms are truly their own. Many questions were running through my mind. In this context, I remembered how facing and overcoming challenges in life, even when we don’t want to, strengthens us and supports our brain’s aMCC region.

When starting a new school year, children may face various challenges that impact their self-regulation and academic success. Difficulties such as waking up early, adjusting to new classes and teachers, and navigating social dynamics can create stress and test their self-control. However, research shows that these obstacles offer an opportunity for children to strengthen their willpower and resilience.

The Anterior Midcingulate Cortex (aMCC) in the brain plays a crucial role in self-control and overcoming challenges. Studies have shown that this region strengthens, especially when we encounter unwanted and challenging tasks. For instance, activities like regular exercise or adopting healthy eating habits, which initially seem challenging, help to grow the aMCC.

Research indicates that when children engage in difficult tasks, such as solving complex math problems or participating in physical activities, the aMCC grows and develops. This growth is linked to improved self-discipline, perseverance, and the ability to handle future challenges.

The benefits of this process extend beyond immediate obstacles. As children continue to overcome school-related difficulties, they not only develop skills to handle current challenges but also lay a foundation for long-term academic and social success.

To grow the aMCC, you need to identify tasks that you don’t want to do. When you tackle these challenging areas, you’re essentially growing this part of your brain. However, if you only engage in these tasks once and then move on, the growth in the aMCC may diminish. Understanding why it’s important to continuously push your limits becomes clearer with this knowledge.

In summary, engaging in challenging activities can enhance the aMCC, but if you don’t persist in tackling difficult tasks, your progress may stall. For developing willpower, it’s crucial to not only push yourself to do things you don’t want to but also to derive satisfaction from these experiences. Willpower develops through enduring discomfort and persistence, and challenging experiences, even if undesirable, contribute to this growth. Additionally, building willpower requires continuously overcoming difficult tasks without relying on shortcuts or cheats.

The development of willpower and the growth of the aMCC are critical not just for personal success but also for professional achievements and longevity. Individuals with a well-developed aMCC tend to be more resilient, capable of handling difficult tasks, and often enjoy a longer lifespan.

Studies have also shown that exercises targeting this brain region offer numerous health benefits for both children and adults:

• Enhanced Cognitive Control and Emotional Regulation: The aMCC plays a key role in decision-making and emotional control. Facing challenging exercises and new difficulties strengthens this brain area and improves our ability to manage stress.
• Increased Determination and Perseverance: Physically demanding activities stimulate the aMCC, boosting willpower and the ability to persist in difficult tasks. This enhances self-discipline and resilience.
• Improved Mood: Aerobic exercises increase blood flow to the brain, enhancing mood. Changes in the aMCC support mood regulation and overall well-being.
• Cognitive Longevity: Preserving the aMCC helps increase cognitive resilience and supports mental health in old age. This region is often maintained in individuals known as "super agers."
• Structural Brain Changes: Regular aerobic exercise can increase the gray matter volume of the anterior cingulate cortex (including the aMCC), positively affecting cognitive function and mood regulation.
• Increased Mental Resilience: Regular exposure to physical and mental challenges strengthens the aMCC and enhances our ability to cope with discomfort and stress.

When our children face and overcome challenging tasks, their aMCC grows. This helps them develop self-discipline and resilience, contributing to their academic and personal success. For leaders, the growth of the aMCC is a critical factor in handling difficult situations and enhancing leadership skills. Leaders with a strong aMCC are better equipped to make decisions under pressure and guide their teams more effectively.

As always, it is important for us, as parents and leaders, to provide support and assurance during these challenges. This will contribute to a healthier process for navigating difficulties.

Wishing all children and parents success and hoping for a wonderful school year.

Author: Selma Kalkavan,Phd,PCC

Sources:

Touroutoglou, A., Andreano, J., Dickerson, B. C., & Barrett, L. F. (2019). The tenacious brain: How the anterior mid-cingulate contributes to achieving goals. Cortex

McClelland, M. M., & Cameron, C. E. (2011), Self-regulation and academic achievement in elementary school children,  Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology

Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2016), Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

Baumeister, R. F., Gailliot, M., DeWall, C. N., & Oaten, M. (2007), Self-control and ego depletion: Role of primary and secondary processes in self-regulation, European Journal of Personality

Diamond, A., & Lee, K. (2011), Interventions shown to aid executive function development in children 4 to 12 years old, Science