Why Wall Power Is Stronger Than Will Power
And how to build an environment that changes everything
Every January, gyms are packed. Planners fly off shelves. Diet apps spike in downloads. Why? Because we’ve bought into the myth that willpower is the key to transformation.
We grit our teeth. We push through. We decide, “This year will be different.”
But by February, reality kicks in. The gym crowds thin. The planner sits unopened. The old habits sneak back in. Not because we’re weak—but because we’re human. And willpower, while noble, was never meant to carry the full weight of change.
That’s where Wall Power comes in.
What Is Wall Power?
Wall Power is the force of environment—the strategic shaping of the world around you to pull you toward who you want to become. Unlike willpower, which leans heavily on isolated internal effort, Wall Power is about building a life that supports your change so deeply that it becomes second nature.
Think about any person alive today—yourself included. Our current behaviors are almost always the byproduct of the environments we’ve lived in:
- Our families and the beliefs they passed down
- The communities we belonged to
- The friends we surrounded ourselves with
- Our successes, our failures, our traumas
- Even our cultural and spiritual environments
All of these have shaped the choices we make and the habits we keep. So it stands to reason: If the environments of our past have crafted the behaviors of our present, then perhaps the most powerful way to shape our future is by intentionally designing the environments that surround us now.
Wall Power means replacing force with formation. It’s not about pushing harder, it’s about building better. You don’t have to climb a wall with your bare hands when you can build a staircase on the side.
Why Will Power Falls Short
Willpower works… until it doesn’t. It burns hot but short. It’s the energy boost we get from a conference or a motivational talk—but then real life shows up, and suddenly, it’s hard to remember why we were so excited in the first place.
The reason? Willpower relies on you—only you—to maintain the change. No matter how passionate or determined you are, life has a way of knocking the wind out of even the best intentions. Stress, fatigue, unexpected setbacks—they all drain our will.
Wall Power, on the other hand, is energy-efficient. It works with your biology, not against it. Rather than constantly fighting the pull of your environment, you simply redesign it to support your new direction.
It’s the difference between trying to paddle upstream versus turning the boat around and letting the current help carry you forward.
The Four Walls of Wall Power
When we talk about environment, we’re not just talking about your physical space (though that matters too). We’re talking about relational, emotional, strategic, and visionary walls—each one a pillar of sustainable change.
Here are four essential walls to start building:
1. The Wall of Vision – Where are you going?
Before anything else, we need a clear picture of the future we’re aiming for. This isn’t just about setting goals—it’s about anchoring our identity. Who do you want to become a year from now? What does that version of you look like, sound like, believe, and do?
This wall is filled with imagery, reminders, quotes, affirmations. It’s the reason behind the change—and when the “why” is strong enough, the “how” gets easier.
2. The Wall of Support – Who’s walking with you?
Change is a team sport. Surrounding yourself with people who believe in your vision, speak life into you, and challenge you when you drift is a game-changer. This wall includes mentors, friends, coaches, small groups—anyone who lifts you toward your better self.
It might mean reducing time with toxic influences. It might mean reaching out to someone who’s a step ahead of you on the journey. Either way, your success will rise or fall with the people in your circle.
3. The Wall of Accountability – What keeps you honest?
Accountability isn’t about guilt—it’s about growth. Whether it’s a weekly check-in, a habit tracker, or a shared commitment with someone you trust, this wall keeps your intentions from slipping quietly away.
It introduces friction in the right places. It brings what’s private into the light. And often, just knowing that someone else is paying attention is enough to keep us moving forward.
4. The Wall of Planning – What’s your structure?
Hope without a plan is just wishful thinking. Change happens in small, consistent steps—and that means systems. From morning routines to meal preps to weekly reviews, this wall is about designing your time and energy in a way that aligns with your goals.
Think of this as your scaffolding. It might not be glamorous, but it holds everything else in place.
Build First. Change Follows.
The beauty of Wall Power is that it removes the shame from slow progress. Instead of asking, “Why can’t I just do this?”, you start asking, “What’s missing from my walls?”
This shift is liberating. It turns change from something overwhelming into something architectural. You become a builder—not just of habits, but of a whole new ecosystem that supports who you’re becoming.
So the next time you feel stuck, don’t just try harder. Build smarter.
Ask yourself:
- What does my current environment reward or discourage?
- What walls are strong in my life right now?
- Which ones need reinforcing?
- Who’s in my corner?
- What do I see every day that pulls me toward—or away from—my future?
You don’t have to climb the mountain on sheer will. You can carve a path. Build a basecamp. Plant flags along the way. And over time, with the right walls in place, you’ll look back and realize—you’re living in the life you once dreamed of.
Not because you were superhuman…
But because you were strategic.
When it comes to growing your photography career, the same principles apply. The reason I said YES to buying Learn Photography Canada 2 years ago from the founders Jana and James it that a saw an environment that was different and different in a great way. I bring my leadership coaching experience into everything we do at Learn Photography Canada.
Workshops aren’t sold as a one and done. Students become part of a community that can inspire increased creativity and supply invaluable support/accountability and plans to get where you want to go.
The environment you join is the reason we celebrate so many successes in our student community. We’d love for you to be our next one. Visit learnphotographycanada.com or call 1.88.734.2641 to learn more and register!