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Summary of The Willpower Instinct 

4.6 . 2098 reviews

Short summary

Are you constantly battling your lack of willpower? Do you find yourself giving in to procrastination regularly? Do you find yourself unproductive as a result? Learning the art of self-control is easier than you think. "The Willpower Instinct" shows you exactly how to do it. Based on Kelly McGonigal's hugely popular course, "The Science of Willpower," learn how you can plant the seeds of self-control, watch them grow, and use what you know to improve every aspect of your life. You don't have to put everything off until tomorrow, and you don't have to fall foul of procrastination time and time again; "The Willpower Instinct" shows you how! A top psychologist and lecturer at renowned Stanford University, Kelly McGonigal wants to help you find your way forward to a better life. "When your mind is preoccupied, your impulses—not your long-term goals—will guide your choices." ~ Kelly McGonigal Ph.D.

Table of content

  • Summary of The Willpower Instinct
  • About the author
  • What is The Willpower Instinct about?
  • Who should read The Willpower Instinct
  • Topics in The Willpower Instinct
first key point

Lack of willpower is a true epidemic in our world today

Listen the first key point
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Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D. teaches a hugely popular Stanford course that attracts people from all walks of life. Whenever she mentions that she is about to talk about willpower, everyone groans and says they really need more of it. It seems that a lack of willpower is something we all deal with! How much willpower do you think you have? Don’t worry if yours is in low supply, as there is plenty of information coming your way to help you change that situation.

Willpower gives you the power to control everything in your life, including your emotions, your attention, finances, health, relationships, and success in your career. For that reason, learning how to improve your levels of willpower is a must–do.

The fact that you struggle with willpower shouldn't make you feel bad. The American Psychological Association states that Americans regularly name low levels of willpower as a reason why they often don't meet their long–term and short–term goals. This leads to feelings of guilt and feeling out of control. Put simply, we're all at the whim of our impulses rather than our conscious choices, and that doesn’t bode well for a happy and healthy life.

The good news however is that you can do something about it and by putting in the time and effort you can start to overcome your bad habits and look forward to achieving the things you’ve always dreamed of.
Willpower isn’t just about pushing yourself to do things, it’s also about learning to control your impulses.
second key point

Learning how to fail helps you to perform better

It might sound counterproductive to suggest that you need to fail to do well, but if you don't know your triggers for failing, how are you supposed to change anything? Kelly McGonigal tells us that the fastest and most effective way to boost your self–control is to watch and understand why you lose control in the first place. This allows you to avoid the common triggers and traps which force you to fail.
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third key point

There are three parts of the brain that control your willpower efforts:I will, I won't, and I want

fourth key point

Self–awareness is a vital step towards willpower

fifth key point

Your brain helps you to survive threats by giving you exactly what you need

sixth key point

Flex your self–control to make it stronger

seventh key point

Just because you do good doesn't mean you can do bad

eighth key point

Why you can't always trust your brain

ninth key point

You can't do your best all the time

tenth key point

Instant gratification is the fast track to a problematic future

eleventh key point

Conclusion

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What is The Willpower Instinct about?

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Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

Actually, yours is not a unique situation. Many adults like you have issues concentrating on a given task. However, in this fast-paced world of ours, you can’t afford to be not focused at all times. Thankfully, this article comes to your rescue! With the tips and tricks from Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey, you will get in the top percent of folks who have mastered the art of concentration.