From ancient times, human ancestors strived to fend off fierce beasts and obtain food. In modern society, people are struggling in the complex social environment. Survival has always been a core topic. The form of survival is changing, but what remains unchanged are the goals of survival and the key factors behind the pursuit, namely cultivating willpower and believing in oneself.

Willpower is a force on the spiritual level. It is like an engine, providing continuous power for our survival activities. When we encounter difficulties, willpower can control our behaviors and prompt us to overcome the instinctive reaction of escaping. For example, when we feel extremely exhausted during a long-distance run and every cell in our body is screaming to give up, willpower will prompt us to persevere.

Cultivating willpower is a long and complex process. We can see many practices of cultivating willpower. For instance, the challenging courses and exams set up in schools are all tests of students’ willpower. Difficult math problems require students to spend a lot of time and energy to study intensively, and the in-depth interpretation of literary works demands that students overcome obstacles in understanding. Sports activities are also an important way to cultivate willpower. Like in the last few minutes of a basketball game, players need to remain calm under huge physical exhaustion and make the best decisions and performances with tenacious willpower.

And believing in oneself is a powerful belief based on self-awareness and psychological suggestion. Confidence stems from a correct assessment of one’s own abilities and values. When we firmly believe in ourselves, the brain will release positive signals, which will affect our emotions and behaviors.

A confident person is more likely to view difficulties as opportunities to improve himself rather than insurmountable obstacles when facing them.

In real life, believing in oneself is of great significance for survival. In terms of career choices, many young people, when faced with numerous options and doubts from the outside world, are more likely to achieve success in the fields they have chosen if they can firmly believe in their own interests and abilities.

In today’s increasingly fierce social competition, cultivating willpower and believing in oneself have become the fundamental guidelines for our survival. They are intertwined and mutually reinforcing. Willpower enables us to have the strength to persevere when facing survival challenges, while believing in oneself provides direction and belief for this perseverance.

Whether in academics, careers or other aspects of life, we should attach importance to the cultivation of both of them, making them a solid backup on our path of survival and helping us continuously pursue our goals.