Kelly McGonigal

According to the American Psychological Association, Americans name “not enough willpower” as the number one thing keeping them from their goals. But what if willpower were not some unattainable virtue, but a natural instinct you could train? What if willpower were a strength you could cultivate, or even a “contagious” state of mind you could share with others? Stanford University Kelly McGonigal, author of The Willpower Instinct and The Neuroscience of Change, describes the latest scientific insights into what willpower is, why you already have it, and how to develop it. Learn practical strategies for tapping into the body’s willpower reserves, training the brain for greater focus and self-control, transforming old habits, and overcoming the most common willpower challenges.

Stress is unavoidable. But is it always harmful? Stanford psychologist and award-winning author Kelly McGonigal, PhD, offers a surprising new view of stress — one that reveals the upside of stress, and how to capitalize on its benefits. The latest science shows that stress can make us smarter, stronger, and more resilient. Stress can even help you connect with what you care about most and strengthen close relationships. This session will explore both what makes stress good for you, and what you can do to get good at stress. Learn how to cultivate a mindset that helps you thrive under stress, and simple strategies for transforming the biology of your stress response, to improve health and well-being. The new science of stress resilience will give you a renewed sense of optimism about your own ability to handle whatever challenges life brings.

What's your most important goal? Why does it matter so deeply? And how will you overcome the obstacles? Stanford University psychologist Kelly McGonigal, author of The Willpower Instinct and The Neuroscience of Change, describes the latest scientific insights into why change is hard — and how people can succeed. Discover why the strategies many people use to ignite change — including stress, self-criticism, and guilt — actually sabotage success, and how to make mindfulness, self-compassion, and social support the foundation for lasting change. Learn practical, science-based strategies for getting started, taming an overwhelmed brain, overcoming setbacks, and staying motivated.

People who are physically active are happier. They have a stronger sense of purpose and experience more gratitude, love, and hope. They feel more connected to their communities and are less likely to suffer from loneliness or become depressed. These benefits are seen throughout the lifespan, apply to every socioeconomic strata, and appear to be culturally universal. In this talk, learn how and why physical activity promotes resilience, belonging, and even meaning in life. From the biological, including how exercise remodels the brain to make you more receptive to joy and social connection; to the psychological, such as how movement is intertwined with identity, self-expression, and self-efficacy; to the social, including how moving with others harnesses human instincts for teamwork, trust, and interdependence.

When it comes to health, there is often a wide gap between what we know we should and what we actually do. Stanford University health psychologist Kelly McGonigal, author of The Willpower Instinct and The Neuroscience of Change, describes the latest neuroscientific and psychological insights into what keeps us stuck, and what makes change stick. Dr. McGonigal will explore the three sides of willpower (“I won’t” power, “I will” power, and “I want” power), and how they work together to transform old habits and build healthier ones. You’ll learn why stress, including health-related guilt or fear, can sabotage behavior change, and how to create a sense of control and hope that boosts motivation. Dr. McGonigal will also share strategies for going beyond the “self” of self-control, including outsourcing willpower to the home environment, and how to make change contagious. The new science of willpower will increase your empathy for patients struggling to change, while giving you fresh ideas for enhancing patient compliance, prescription adherence, and behavior change.