10 pieces of Willpower Wisdom

Distilled from Stanford psychologist’s phenomenal book The Willpower Instinct

Or is it?

“If there is a secret for greater self-control, the science points to one thing: the power of paying attention.”

That’s how Stanford psychologist Kelly McGonigal concludes her phenomenal book ‘The Willpower Instinct.’

I decided to pay extra close attention as I was reading, and distilled what I learned into 10 pieces of ‘willpower wisdom’.

1. Understand the (evolutionary) role of willpower

Willpower developed as a survival mechanism, to help us resist temptation, build long-term relationships and prioritise long-term plans. This advanced self-control system was built on top of our brain’s more primitive layers.

And this is where internal conflict and friction come from:

• The prefrontal cortex, the newest part of your brain, responsible for impulse control, long-term thinking and decision-making
• The oldest, more primitive parts of your brain, focused on desire, impulse and immediate gratification

It’s completely normal to have these two opposing voices in your head; so go easy on yourself. You’re not battling against yourself; you’re…