The Willpower Instinct What is the No. 1 reason people don’t meet their goals? Willpower. The good news, though, is that this power can be studied as a science, according to health psychologist and author Kelly McGonigal. McGonigal’s new book, The Willpower Instinct, heavily based on research studies, explores willpower challenges: dieting, addiction and exercise, to name a few. She refers to biology and neuroscience and the origins of human thought, spelling out complex scientific findings in layman’s terms. McGonigal’s own research led her to create “The Science of Willpower,” a class offered to the public through Stanford University’s Continuing Studies Program and that helps explain how to break old habits and create new, healthy ones. She defines willpower as “the ability to control attention, emotions and desires.” In her book, she points out that now, more than ever, people realize how willpower influences their physical health, financial security, relationships and professional success—and how the pressure to be in control of every aspect of our lives is often our downfall. “According to the American Psychological Association, Americans name lack of willpower as the number-one reason they struggle to meet their goals,” McGonigal writes. “Many feel guilty about letting themselves and others down. Others feel at the mercy of their thoughts, emotions, and cravings, their lives dictated by impulses rather than conscious choices. Even the best-controlled feel a kind of exhaustion at keeping it all together and wonder if life is supposed to be such a struggle.” Continue reading to learn how to harness the powers of self-control. |
