Ep. 324 | Mastering Willpower: How Self-Control Works, Why it Matters, & What You Can Do to Get More with Kelly McGonigal

Jul 3

In this episode we are joined by Kelly McGonigal, a renowned health psychologist and Stanford University lecturer as we delve into the fascinating world of willpower.

In our conversation, we explore the intricacies of willpower, its role in our lives, and how we can harness it to achieve our goals. Kelly shares her unique perspective on the conflicting impulses within us all and provides actionable advice on how to navigate these internal battles.

In this episode, you'll discover:

How to identify and leverage your willpower strengths.
The three forces of willpower: "I will," "I won't," and "I want."
The importance of not depriving yourself of your favorite foods when dieting.
How to train your willpower and make choices that align with your goals.
The role of mindfulness in enhancing willpower.

ABOUT Kelly McGonigal

Kelly McGonigal is a health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University who specializes in understanding the mind-body connection. As a pioneer in the field of "science-help," her mission is to translate insights from psychology and neuroscience into practical strategies that support personal well-being and strengthen communities.

She is the best-selling author of The Willpower Instinct and The Upside of Stress. You might also know her from her TED talk, "How to Make Stress Your Friend," which is one of the most viewed TED talks of all time, with over 20 million views.

Through the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism, she helped create Stanford Compassion Cultivation Training, a program now taught around the world that helps individuals strengthen their empathy, compassion, and self-compassion.

In January 2020, Oprah Magazine honored her ability to *“*transform scientific data into wisdom” by naming McGonigal the first ever O! Visionary, people whose groundbreaking way of seeing the world mean a better future for us all.

Her new book, The Joy of Movement, explores why physical exercise is a powerful antidote to the modern epidemics of depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

Fun facts that hosts sometimes like to include:

I’m passionate about animal rescue and adoption, and I am trained as a cat adoption counselor and matchmaker.

I’m a certified group exercise instructor and have been teaching group exercise for two decades (since 2000). My favorite format is cardio dance.

My identical twin sister is the well-known game designer and futurist Jane McGonigal.

ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT PODCAST

The Blueprint Podcast is for busy professionals and Household CEOs who care deeply about their families, career, and health. Host Dr. Erik Korem distills cutting edge-science, leadership, and life skills into simple tactics optimized for your busy lifestyle and goals. Dr. Korem interviews scientists, coaches, elite athletes, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and exceptional people to discuss science and practical skills you can implement to become the most healthy, resilient, and impactful version of yourself.

On a mission to equip people to pursue audacious goals, thrive in uncertainty, and live a healthy and fulfilled life, Dr. Erik Korem is a High-Performance pioneer. He introduced sports science and athlete-tracking technologies to collegiate and professional (NFL) football over a decade ago. He has worked with the National Football League, Power-5 NCAA programs, gold-medal Olympians, Nike, and the United States Department of Defense.

Erik is an expert in sleep and stress resilience. He is the Founder and CEO of AIM7, a health and fitness app that unlocks the power of wearables by providing you with daily personalized recommendations to enhance your mind, body, and recovery.