Kelly McGonigal Quotes

• Go after what it is that creates meaning in your life and then trust yourself to handle the stress that follows.

  Kelly McGonigal

  Inspirational, Life, Trust

  "How to make stress your friend". The TED Interview, www.ted.com. June, 2013.

  51 Copy quote

• When you choose to view your stress response as helpful, you create the biology of courage.

  Kelly McGonigal

  Stress, Views, Helpful

  "How to make stress your friend". TED Talk, www.ted.com. June 2013.

  44 Copy quote

• Chasing meaning is better for your health than trying to avoid discomfort.

  Kelly McGonigal

  Trying, Chasing, Discomfort

  "How to make stress your friend". TED Talk, www.ted.com. June 2013.

  32 Copy quote

• My favorite definition of the mindful path is the one the reveals itself as you walk down it. You cannot find the path until you step on to it.

  Kelly McGonigal

  Definitions, Path, Steps

  54 Copy quote

• When you choose to connect with others under stress, you can create resilience.

  Kelly McGonigal

  Stress, Resilience, Under Stress

  "How to make stress your friend". TED Talk, www.ted.com. June 2013.

  22 Copy quote

• According to the American Psychological Association, the most effective stress-relief strategies are exercising or playing sports, praying or attending a religious service, reading, listening to music, spending time with friends or family, getting a massage, going outside of ra walk, meditating or doing yoga, and spending time with a creative hobby. The least effective strategies are gambling, shopping, smoking, drinking, eating, playing video games, surfing the Internet, and watching TV or movies for more than two hours.

  Kelly McGonigal

  Sports, Religious, Stress

  "The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It". Book by Kelly McGonigal, www.businessinsider.com. December 29, 2011.

  37 Copy quote

• The biggest enemies of willpower: temptation, self-criticism, and stress. (...) these three skills —self-awareness, self-care, and remembering what matter most— are the foundation for self-control.

  Kelly McGonigal

  Stress, Skills, What Matters

  37 Copy quote

• You can deal with stressful life experiences with strength from past ones.

  Kelly McGonigal

  Life, Strength, Past

  16 Copy quote

• When your mind is preoccupied, your impulses—not your long-term goals—will guide your choices.

  Kelly McGonigal

  Long, Goal, Choices

  Kelly McGonigal (2011). “The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It”, p.24, Penguin

  13 Copy quote

• Self-compassion - being supportive and kind to yourself, especially in the face of stress and failure - is associated with more motivation and better self-control.

  Kelly McGonigal

  Motivation, Stress, Compassion

  "The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It". Book by Kelly McGonigal, 2012.

  55 Copy quote

• We all have the tendency to believe self-doubt and self-criticism, but listening to this voice never gets us closer to our goals. Instead, try on the point of view of a mentor or good friend who believes in you, wants the best for your, and will encourage you when you feel discouraged.

  Kelly McGonigal

  Believe, Good Friend, Voice

  15 Copy quote

• The is a secret for greater self-control, the science points to one thing: the power of paying attention.

  Kelly McGonigal

  Self, Secret, Attention

  15 Copy quote

• Neuroscientists have discovered that when you ask the brain to meditate, it gets better, not just at meditating, but at a wide range of self-control skills Over time, [meditators'] brains become finely tuned willpower machines.

  Kelly McGonigal

  Skills, Self, Brain

  19 Copy quote

• For most of us, the classic test of willpower is resisting temptation, whether the temptress is a doughnut, a cigarette, a clearance sale, or a one-night stand. When people say, "I have no willpower," what they usually mean is, "I have trouble saying no when my mouth, stomach, heart, or (fill in your anatomical part) wants to say yes.

  Kelly McGonigal

  Heart, Mean, Night

  Kelly McGonigal (2011). “The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It”, p.14, Penguin

  21 Copy quote

• People come up with resolutions that don’t reflect what matters most to them, and that makes them almost guaranteed to fail.

  Kelly McGonigal

  What Matters, People, Failing

  13 Copy quote

• The development of willpower -I will, I won't and I want- may define what it means to be human.

  Kelly McGonigal

  Mean, Development, May

  13 Copy quote

• We wrongly but persistently expect to make different decisions tomorrow than we do today

  Kelly McGonigal

  Decision, Different, Today

  Kelly McGonigal (2012). “Maximum Willpower: How to master the new science of self-control”, p.71, Pan Macmillan

  12 Copy quote

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