Habits arising from acts of will play an important role in developing a person’s intellectual and spiritual pursuits, as they transform the initial conscious effort into an automated mode, freeing mental energy for higher forms of activity.

From Willpower to Wisdom

Habits arising from acts of will play an important role in developing a person’s intellectual and spiritual pursuits, as they transform the initial conscious effort into an automated mode, freeing mental energy for higher forms of activity. When a person consciously directs their willpower toward performing actions that initially require significant effort, these actions eventually become habits. Consequently, the energy previously spent on managing volitional processes is released and can be channeled into the development of intellect and the spiritual realm.

For example, as noted in one source, if a habit develops from an act of will, the intellectual energy initially used for regulating movements becomes free and is directed toward higher spiritual work (source: link txt, page: 2). This automation process reduces the effort needed for everyday actions, thereby leaving more resources available for analysis, creativity, and spiritual growth.

Furthermore, deliberate willful activity forms habits that last a lifetime and contribute to both intellectual and spiritual growth. This is evidenced by the fact that habits formed through volitional activity develop quite differently from the automatic actions of daily life—they require constant conscious effort at first and, once established, become a solid foundation for future development (source: link txt, page: 15).

It is also worth noting that the automation and mechanization of actions arising from acts of will act as a process of liberating intellectual energy, which can then be directed toward more complex intellectual and spiritual work. In this context, habits help integrate action with reflection, contributing to a harmonious and sustainable development of the soul (source: link txt, page: 5; source: link txt).

Thus, habits based on willful activity foster intellectual and spiritual growth by shifting from energy-intensive conscious regulation to automated behavior, allowing the freed energy to be used for cultivating higher levels of thinking and spiritual life.

Supporting citation(s):
"Let us address the issue of habit development in children. It is known that habits develop from acts of will... If a habit develops from an act of will, then the intellectual energy required for volitional regulation of movements becomes free and is redirected toward higher spiritual work." (source: link txt, page: 2)
"The development of habits from volitional movements occurs quite differently. Unlike habits created for automatic actions... It is precisely these habits—resulting from deliberate acts of will—that become lifelong, contributing to both intellectual and spiritual growth." (source: link txt, page: 15)
"It is also noteworthy that a habit, understood as the automation and mechanization of actions, frees intellectual energy. This is especially relevant in the context of volitional regulation of movements, where the freed energy is utilized for higher spiritual and intellectual work." (source: link txt, page: 5)
"It is essential to connect action with reflection and reflection with action... This enables the integration of habits formed through volitional activity with intellectual work." (source: link txt)