The Importance of WillPower

ڪَذَٲلِكَ لِنَصۡرِفَ عَنۡهُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ وَٱلۡفَحۡشَآءَ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ مِنۡ عِبَادِنَا ٱلۡمُخۡلَصِينَ

One sin simply leads to another … and another. A single sin opens the door for even greater temptations and acts of disobedience. It’s like a drug where one hit simply isn’t enough.
Many of us think our one sin possibly cannot make a difference in the grand scheme of things. But when we commit a single sin, we open our hearts to even greater acts of darknesses. It impacts our future choices for the rest of our lives.
For example, if backbiting has become someone's favourite mode of conversation, then the natural next step for lying and slandering. If someone has been watching inappropriate shows and movies on TV or on the Internet, then using obscene language and doing indecent things becomes an effortless routine.

"For want of a nail, a shoe was lost,
For want of a shoe, a horse was lost,
For want of a horse, a battle was lost,
For want of a battle, a kingdom was lost,
And all for want of a horseshoe nail."

Yusuf (a.s) fought and overcame temptations since a very young age; this developed his discipline and willpower. So when he was given the invitation to commit the most ugliest form of sin, he was strong enough to resist and refrain from it. Because he was able to control himself again and again, ٱلۡمُخۡلَصِينَ Allah gave him the gift of sincerity. 

In this case, sincerity means to regulate one's conduct for the sake of Allah; it means to obey Allah and to avoid sins by staying within the limits of Allah. Therefore, learning self-discipline in the small spiritual acts prepares the way to big spiritual successes. On the other hand, those who are undisciplined in small sins will likely be undisciplined in more serious sins. And when it comes to a person's integrity and credibility in Deen, there are no small sins or small spiritual deeds. 

We can exercise our willpower the most when we have free time. We can try not be seek to be entertained constantly. When you have free time from work or from school, instead of unwinding in front of the screen, do things that are spiritually productive instead of merely socially entertaining. Read a good book, listen to the Qur'an or a lecture, go for a jog or a swim, or have a meaningful conversation with an adult. Help out at home or learn a life skill. In other words, learn to entertain yourself with things that are spiritually challenging, stimulating, and creative.

Qur'an 12:24