How do you define a "stable state"?

A stable state is one which you fall back into even when perturbed a bit. For example, some people with drinking problems intend to have "just one drink", but that one drink leads to another drink, which leads to another, and before they know it, they're drunk. For these people, attempting to have just one drink is not a stable strategy, because it leads to a second drink (and so on). For many of these people, it would be easier to not drink at all; therefore the stable equilibria are not drinking or getting drunk.

Also, using willpower is not as simple as you make it out to be.

Feel free to elaborate.

I think this post lacks content and originality.

The post is just there to introduce the idea and get people started with some illustrative examples. The bulk of the content should be in the comment section.