The Will Power Instinct Book Review

About The Author and The Book

Kelly McGonigal, who has a psychology degree from Stanford University, has a top-rated course, The Science of Willpower, The Willpower Instinct is the first book to explain the new science of self-control and how it can be harnessed to improve our health, happiness, and productivity. Informed by the latest research and combining cutting-edge insights from psychology, economics, neuroscience, and medicine, The Willpower Instinct explains exactly what willpower is, how it works, and why it matters.

In this willpower instinct book review, I will lay out seven sections of the book that will be key to the full use of your willpower.

Section 1: Will Power

According to her book, Will Power is the ability to control your attention, emotions, and desires and influences your physical health, financial security, relationships, and professional success.

From here to the end of the book, she goes step by step and breaks down everything that willpower does for us as individuals and how we can break old instincts and develop new ones with techniques that she provides.

Section2: 3 Parts Of Will Power

She starts by breaking down the three parts of will power which are,

1. I will
2. I won’t 
3. I want

This allows us to take a closer look at how each perspective shapes our decision-making process. Finally, she shows an example in this section of how we can use these perspectives for both good and bad decisions based on what we believe.

Section 3: Good Self-Control

 She shows us how we can fight against our frontal cortex’s impulses that push us to give in to unhealthy desires. In this section, she also details self-control to make better decisions. The best-known ways to build up your resistance to bad decision-making and make better choices would be.

• Meditate: Meditation is, in the clearest terms, exercise for your brain; by learning how to meditate, you will learn how to quiet your mind and control your thoughts and actions, allowing you to regain control of your willpower desires that have been controlling you.

Another way that she says will help to build our resistance to poor decision-making is to,

• Exercise Daily: With exercising our minds, it is vital to exercise our bodies. With both techniques as a part of your daily routine, you will see an increase in your focus and determination, along with your ability to make more and more good decisions.

Section 4: Gain WillPower In Your Sleep

She also goes on to show us how to regain our willpower in our sleep. She shows here that letting go of everything from the day and just relaxing will allow us to rest completely, which allows us to rejuvenate completely, and this will enable us to gather enough energy to face the day ahead.

Section 5: Stress is Your Enemy

Here she shows that stress is truly our enemy. People with chronic stress will see more health issues and find it harder to sleep, focus, or have self-discipline. Thus you will be more prone to making bad decisions, and you will likely see your mental, emotional, physical, and even spiritual well-being suffers more and more due to stress.

She then reminds us that it is key to learn how to maintain a healthy perspective of every situation as she also gives us more examples of how we can use our good decision-making skills to use the techniques she then explains.

• The key technique she layout in this portion of the book is to schedule important goals and tasks. When we do this, we will naturally reduce stress and anxiety. We will gain that sense of control that we as individuals require, and we are more likely to follow through with what we have planned, let alone be less likely to forget, which brings us a sense of reassurance. 

Section 6: The “What The Hell” Effect

The” what the hell effect” is the process of indulgence, regret, and greater intelligence.

Here she again shows how the three techniques play an important role that can be used either for good or bad.

She also shows how with self-compassion and patience, we can break bad habits and develop better control over everyday decision-making with the step-by-step techniques she provides.

Section 7:Goal Contagion

In this section, she explains how people affect us and how we can reduce their effects by simply taking time for ourselves each day and placing our main focus on our own goals rather than what others feel, think, say, or do toward us as individuals.

Final thoughts:

This book goes into much greater detail than what I have outlined here. Therefore, to truly get a full view of this book, you will have to read it.

All this is one of the most insightful books I have ever read. She goes into such detail in these books, giving some of the best explanations I have ever heard as to why we as individuals think, feel and behave the way we do.

 If you ever have the chance to read it or listen to it on audio, I strongly suggest it. When you are done, you will have a whole new view of yourself and how you can use your willpower. 

If you enjoyed this review, let me know by giving this article a like or a comment below. Also, please share this with someone who could benefit from this information. Until next week, Namaste.