The activity directed by the intelligence is the will. When there is no intelligence guiding the activity, there is blind impulse. Where there is no activity there is no will. The will can be strengthened by practicing it, by exerting it to overcome obstacles without and within, by acting contrary to our inclination, by holding impulses in check, not allowing them to go to the full length of their swing, by refraining from any action or expression to which we may be inclined, by not allowing ourselves to be overcome by a fit of anger, of laughter, of tears, by extreme joy or sorrow, or whatever mood, and either changing the emotion to its opposite, anger to mildness, laughter to sorrow, tears to joy; by checking the emotion and effacing it, or by, while letting it have its course, yet holding it in our control.

To know when to persist in our own will, when to allow the will of others, is often difficult, and sometimes we think it most difficult to know what is the will of God and what is our own will. Sometimes, six months afterwards, sometimes a year afterwards, or years afterwards, we see clearly what we should have done in a certain case, what course we should have taken, which at the time we could not discern, although we tried to. If at the moment of difficulty, we were as calm, as free from these thoughts of the pleasure, the happiness, the discomfort or the loss that will result to ourselves, we should see as clearly in that moment and perceive plainly the will of God.