The Way of the Will with Charlotte Mason

A friend of mine posted a cartoon this week that caught my eye. The first character asks, “What exactly is a New Year’s resolution?” And the second replies, “It’s a to-do list for the first week of January.”

For some of us, that reply is all too true. Why? Because it is hard work making yourself do what you know you should, even when you don’t want to. When you’re snuggled in a warm bed and your alarm goes off to remind you to get up and exercise—again, in the dark, in the cold,—it takes a lot of effort to make yourself throw back those covers and get going.

If you opt to stay in bed, do you later excuse your actions by saying, “I just couldn’t help it; I have such a strong will”? No! We say things like, “I was weak” or “I need stronger will-power.”

Exactly. Making yourself do what you know you ought to do, regardless of what you want at the moment, requires a strong will. It is a weak will that gives in to the desires and appetites and takes the easiest way out.

Charlotte Mason described it as knowing the difference between “I want” and “I will.” And she urged us as parents to teach our children that difference, to help them cultivate a strong will that can choose to do what is right no matter how they feel.

The Way of the Will

It sounds good, but how do we do that? Charlotte had much to say about the Way of the Will. And we are pleased to be able to offer a new free e-book that highlights her sensible ideas and practical tips on the subject.

The short chapters cover

The difference between a strong will and a weak will,
How temper tantrums actually indicate a weak will,
How to encourage your compliant child to strengthen her will in order to be able to stand against dangerous persuasion,
Feeding and training your child’s will in order to strengthen it,
The secret of changing your thoughts,
How motivating thoughts can be used to strengthen the will,
What to do when the will is tired,
The importance of the habit of attention in this process,
How old habits can sabotage your efforts if you’re not careful,
The importance of shaping your child’s conscience so he uses his will for good,
How character is the result of actions based on will.

This 54-page book is available in multiple formats. You can choose the usual downloadable PDF for your computer, or for those with e-book readers, we have a Kindle version along with ePub format for iPad, Nook, and many other devices.

Download your copy of The Way of the Will with Charlotte Mason today as our free gift to you. The principles and suggestions contained in this little gem will give you the tools you need to, yes, keep your New Year’s resolutions, but more importantly, teach your child the difference between “I want” and “I will”!