Harnessing the Power of the Will

Charlotte Mason's seventeenth principle is The Way of the Will:

Children should be taught (a) to distinguish between "I want" and "I will"; (b) that the way to will effectively is to turn our thoughts away from that which we desire but do not will; (c) that the best way to turn our thoughts is to think of, or do, something quite different—something entertaining or interesting; and (d) that after a little rest in this way, the will returns to its work with new vigor.

Charlotte Mason writes extensively about this elusive idea she calls "the way of the will." What is the will? Miss Mason tells us, "The Will is the man"; and yet, most people go through life without a single definite act of willing. She goes on to explain that the function of the will is "to choose, to decide," and that "to fortify the will is one of the great purposes of education."

The Will as a Muscle

We can think of the will as a muscle. It can be strengthened through proper use—the resolve to choose what we ought to do, even when we do not necessarily want to do it. Conversely, the will can atrophy through neglect, leaving a person enslaved to impulse and desire.

Charlotte Mason argues that we want our children to possess strong wills, enabling them to choose rightly regardless of external pressure or cultural norms. A child who is unable to carry himself forward to do what he ought—such as peacefully obeying rightful authority—may be described as having a weak will.

Protecting the Will from Fatigue

At the same time, Mason warns that the will can become fatigued if it is overstrained. Decision-making is particularly taxing on a child's will, which is one reason habit training plays such an important role in education.

Good habits spare children from the exhaustion of constant choice. For example, a child who must decide whether or not to clean up after himself or speak kindly to others will have little strength left when asked to apply himself to demanding intellectual work, such as copywork. But when habits of cleanliness and kindness are already established, the child's will is freed and strengthened for the work that truly requires effort.

The Power of Distraction

Charlotte Mason also highlights distraction—the intentional turning of one's thoughts—as a powerful strategy for preserving the will from exhaustion. She writes:

"It is something to know what to do with ourselves when we are beset, and the knowledge of this way of the will is so far the secret of a happy life, that it is well worth imparting to the children. Are you cross? Change your thoughts. Are you tired of trying? Change your thoughts. Are you craving for things you are not to have? Change your thoughts; there is a power within you, your own will, which will enable you to turn your attention from thoughts that make you unhappy and wrong, to thoughts that make you happy and right… This is the exceedingly simple way in which the will acts."

A helpful analogy is found in the practice of learning a musical instrument. Practice sessions can only last so long before fatigue sets in, and continuing beyond that point is often unproductive. Sometimes the wisest course is to step away, rest, and return later with renewed energy. So it is with the will.

The well-known Stanford marshmallow experiment also illustrates this principle, showing how the ability to redirect attention plays a key role in self-control across all ages.

Aligning Our Will with God's

Ultimately, if our aim is to live in obedience to the Lord's will, we must take time to examine our own. Is our will aligned with His?

Charlotte Mason reminds us that training the will—especially in children—must be approached with care and humility. She cautions against turning the will inward as an exercise in self-absorption:

"While affording some secrets of 'the way of the will' to young people, we should perhaps beware of presenting the ideas of 'self-knowledge, self-reverence, and self-control.' All adequate education must be outward bound… Will, free will, must have an object outside of self; and the poet has said the last word so far as we yet know—

'Our wills are ours, we know not how; Our wills are ours, to make them Thine.'"