讀後心得

Willpower is an important driver of success, but after exerting oneself fully for a short period, one may encounter the phenomenon of self-exhaustion, which leads to a decline in self-control and makes it difficult to resist temptation. Research shows that after experiencing stress, the brain's energy depletes, making impulsive actions more likely, such as choosing unhealthy foods. Replenishing energy can help maintain rational judgment; therefore, when fatigued, it's advisable to avoid making important decisions and to take timely breaks to prevent being influenced by small temptations.

Many people envy those with strong willpower, as they persist in the pursuit of success, resisting any obstacles. In reality, willpower acts as a propellant in life, able to fully block or push away something within a short time. However, once willpower is activated, it often leads to a phase of temporary willpower decline or mental fatigue. During this period, we are easily swayed by external temptations and struggle to make well-considered judgments.

American psychologists point out that this phenomenon is known as "ego depletion." Just like a toilet that has temporarily run out of water after a lot of flushing, our inner state can become similar. During this time, we often find it hard to restrain our habits, our self-control diminishes, and it becomes difficult to engage in behaviors that require strong willpower, such as dieting or abstaining from pleasures. For example, when we try to control our dinner choices, we might avoid greasy foods, opt for vegetables, or even only eat half a bowl of rice. However, faced with certain temptations, we might suddenly change our minds and ultimately choose our favorite foods.

In busy lives, many office workers may overeat, watch TV, or even indulge in midnight snacks when they return home. They find it hard to resist temptations because the daily busyness and stress lead to ego depletion.

To better understand the extent of reduced self-control after short-term energy expenditure, researchers at a university conducted an experiment. They divided participants into two groups, asking them to remember simple and complex numbers. The results showed that those who remembered simple numbers mostly chose healthy foods, while those who remembered complex numbers were more inclined to choose high-calorie foods, demonstrating that when the brain is under stress, energy is depleted, making it hard to resist primal desires.

When ego depletion occurs, the likelihood of people acting impulsively also increases. Individuals with strong social adaptability can suppress impulses, but when energy is depleted, they stop thinking and instead react immediately. Perhaps you have experienced regretting a shopping spree when tired; this frequently happens due to a lack of time for reflection, leading to direct action.

However, replenishing energy can help prevent this situation. In the past, a company provided interviewers with different beverages during interviews, and the results showed that interviewers who received sugar supplements were able to evaluate candidates more rationally, unaffected by their internal biases. Therefore, when feeling fatigued, it’s best to take a temporary break and avoid making significant decisions.

In conclusion, when faced with minor temptations, we should not be overly confident, as some people will exploit our ego depletion to trigger greater temptations. Decisions made while exhausted often lead to regret.