Scheduling an Event
My large conference and corporate events, and related travel arrangements, are managed by The Leigh Bureau speakers’ agency. To arrange a talk, event, or keynote, please contact them directly. If you would like to set up another type of event, such as a book talk/signing, workshop, retreat, or fundraiser for a non-profit/charity, please fill out the event request form.
Arranging an Interview
I am happy to speak with the press. Please fill out the form below, and I will respond within 24 hours.
For inquiries about my local classes, check updated schedules and registration information at:
Avalon Yoga Center, Palo Alto (drop-in yoga classes and yoga teacher training)
Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism (compassion cultivation trainings and teacher training)
Stanford Continuing Studies (quarterly public courses in psychology; registration required)
Stanford Health Improvement Program (quarterly classes in functional fitness/yoga/pain relief; registration required)
In your interview on NPR January 1, 2010 you mentioned a study about exercise changing a variety of behaviors. What was the study & where can I access it?
Thanks,
Murray Neale
You’re probably thinking of: Oaten, M., & Cheng, K. (2006). Longitudinal Gains in Self-Control from Regular Physical Exercise. British Journal of Health Psychology, 11, 717-733.
There’s lots of other evidence for the benefits of exercise on self-control — my book covers it in a few chapters and provides citations.
Best,
Kelly
Thank you!
I just watched your talk at the Stanford Happiness Conference 2011 on youtube and it was very fascinating. I’m currently writing a thesis on self-compassion and several of the studies you mention would be helpful for my literature review. However, I couldn’t read who the research was done by. Do you happen to have a link to those studies? Many thanks, and I look forward to studying your work more.
Check out Kristin Neff’s self-compassion research webpage. Not only does it list all the studies, but includes the actual PDFs of almost every study! Best of luck with your thesis on a really important topic. Kelly
https://webspace.utexas.edu/neffk/pubs/listofpublications.htm
Just finished reading your book ‘The WIllpower Instinct’ and it was so helpful, informative and frequently quite funny. I borrowed it from the library since I’m an epic frugalist (wondering if I have hyperopic tendencies) but might actually consider purchasing it. I’m wondering if your ‘Science of Willpower’ course is ever offered in an online format and – failing that – whether you’ve ever given any consideration to creating a workbook that people could use in a group setting to proceed through the material in the course and in your book in a ‘study circle’ type format (like people do with voluntary simplicity for example). Thanks again for writing such a great book.
Dear Dr. McGonigal; Hiya. I’m 20 pages from finishing your book. I guess I didn’t have the willpower to wait till I finished it to write you. I kid. It’s a great book. A Tour de’ Snickers. Figured I should shoot this e-mail off before I forget. I read Baumeisters book . You site him and his research. Obviously yours is more comprehensive and filled with more helpful real life info. I got one thing from his book, that willpower depletes and by the end of the day you have less or none. I’m not sure you agree with that, but that fact helps me with my eating challenge. I was wondering. I’m a wonderer. Since you give a class in this. Might you have a cheat-sheet, a hand-out, a kind of over-all chart – that’s a thumbnail, at-a-glance over-view, that might have highlights like dopamine, halo-effect, wait-ten-minutes, meditation…There’s just so much you bring to the table in the book and it’s a lot to take in, and it’s all important. I plan on going back and scanning and highlighting to create my own, but I’m a one man business and just so busy, as things are a real challenge now. I heard you on Joe Cooper on WLRN in Miami, and bought your book. I have some profound challenges, that understanding and implementing your willpower research could really make the difference for me. Thanks again. – Jonny Katof
Hi Kelly. You were my editor on a couple of pieces way back when. I am now training at Duke Integrative Medicine — specifically in integrative health coaching (taught as a standardized intervention for lifestyle change). They have limited studies on it so far but I can send you the literature if you want. The intervention (not far from MI model, but predicated on a mind/body practice as “cornerstone of change”) exemplifies the use of mindfulness & awareness of vision/long term goals to sustain new behaviors. Hope you’re well! Take care, Susanna PS Bought the book & love it.
So glad to hear you are doing the integrative health coaching! I wrote an article about Duke’s program for Shambhala Sun and I’m glad to hear they will have you as a resource.
I listened to your interview on CBC’s Spark yesterday. I really enjoyed, not just the substance of what you said, though that spoke to me strongly, but your personableness and humour.
A few of the things you said – particularly about how important awareness is – made me wonder if you’re familiar with the Inner Game books by* Timothy Gallwey. He didn’t have the science to back him up at the time, so he had to go on empirical observation and experiment, but he had many similar things to say, even back in the 70s.
*as co-authored, in some cases, like The Inner Game of Music, which is mostly by Barry Green.
Great book! Are you planning to train other trainers to conduct “Science of Willpower” courses? I would certainly be interested. Also, as clinical director of an outpatient addiction treatment center I would love to be part of a multi-site study on the benefits of your program when added to standard addiction treatment.
Kelly, to follow up on my earlier comment: During our training as psychologists we are steeped in the scientist/practitioner ideal, but for those of us working with clients every day it’s easy to fall into relying on “common sense” and “clinical wisdom” (some of which is certainly misguided). Continuing education training for therapists (perhaps like what you do with teachers but on the “Science of Willpower” topic) would be a real boon to practitioners, particularly those like me in the addiction field. Of course, counselors in all areas of specialty will find the material compelling and extremely practical. If you’d consider certifying or subcontracting other psychologists to do the course, I would be interested. I have taught continuing education courses throughout the U.S. and I think a course on this topic would really bring in participants.
I am an Irish Stanford Biz School grad. Found you self compassion talks very relevant given my experience growing up in Ireland. Also, as a person diagnosed with ADHD I find your self control/willpower insights to be excellent and appropriate for my life. Have bought your books, and CD from sounds true site.
THANKS for the great difference in my life and speaking about things of universal importance and application.
Thanks Ronan, from an Irish girl. I hope you find some value in the CDs. Self-compassion is a continuing journey for me as well. Best,
Kelly
Hi there,
I was particularly interested in the Feb. 24 New York Times article on bad habits and identifying with Your Future Self.
I’ve got a project I think you might be interested in: http://myfutureself.com — in which your future self sends you questions to be answered via email. Until reading the NYT article I hadn’t thought about how identifying with your future self might help change habits…
I’d love an invitation code — this looks great! I’d also love to do a Science of Willpower blog post on it when the site is fully launched.
Sure thing — send an email to canton[at]gmail.com so I know where to email the code (or click the request link on the home page at My Future Self.)
Hi Kelly. I am Anna. Your Willpower book is superb and I can’t put it down. That does not happen to me too often. I am only sad that you did not include references for the studies you cite. I am currently working on a chapter for professional mental-health audience, on the topic of willpower during the ‘terrible twos’. The studies you cite on p.92 by researchers at Baruch College in New York (re: Big Mac effect) would be most helpful to me. Would you be able to take the time to send me the reference?
Thanking you in advance…. Anna Hall
Hi Anna,
All the references for every study are in the book’s endnotes, by page number. What version do you have that the references aren’t included?
Kelly
Kelly.
Thank you for your quick response. I had overlooked the Notes section at the end of the book. I now looked in your Notes for page 92, which is what I need, but there is no citation for it. I need the study by marketing researchers from Baruch College, that simulates the McDonald situation when they first introduced salads into the menu. Can you find me that reference?
You do have a reference designated for pg. 93 by Kahn and Dahr, and I looked up that research, but they are addressing the temporal aspect of choice and self-control, which seems to me is different from the essential meaning of what the ‘Mc Donald study’ illustrates.
Sorry for bothering you so. You seem like an extraordinarily busy person. How can you answer our questions so quickly and do it so well?
Anna
It’s the ref right above it, labeled “salad increases unhealthy choice” – Wilcox et al 2009. Best,
Kelly
Hello! I just finished your book (I absolutely loved it! The first self-help book that makes sense to me…) and I have two questions:
1. Are there any guided meditation CD’s that you can recommend to me?
2. Like the comment left by Jonny Katof on 3/7, I too am wondering if you have any chart where you have all the suggestions organized. I’d love to take your class, but I am on the East Coast!
Many thanks!
Hi Jeanne,
I just released a set of cds/downloadable MP3s with Sounds True that includes 6 different meditations to support self-control and self-compassion: http://www.amazon.com/The-Neuroscience-Change-Compassion-Based-Transformation/dp/1604077905/ or download at soundstrue.com
I don’t have a chart but it’s a good idea. I need to put something together!
Best,
Kelly
Thanks so much for your quick reply! I will check out the CD’s/MP3′s, and start designing my own chart…I have half the book highligted, so it will be a little tricky! I am so hopeful that I will finally be able to acheive lasting success in my I will/I won’t challenge. (I’m trying to change my I won’t into an I will)
Take care,
Jeanne
Good luck! Know that there are people rooting for your success, no matter what ups and downs happen along the way.
Best,
Kelly
Thanks much Anna
I am writing from Madrid, Spain. I read with great interest your book entitled “The willpower instinct”. I found it impressive. It is more interesting than any other in this topic. So, congratulations!!!
I spoke to some friends about your book, and they ended up interested in it. The problem is that they cannot read English (I am translating for them some selected parts of the book). Are you going to publish an edition in Spanish of this book? It would be great. I am sure that many people would also find it interesting and helpful. Best regards.
The Spanish edition will be available in June!
I am just finishing your book and it is great – definitely life changing! One of the ways I learn and apply books is highlight and summarize book so I can revisit and apply what I learn in my life. I have worked with children/youth for 20 years and currently I am a houseparent for underprivileged middle school girls. I am going to try to repackage the materials in your book for our students and present it to them so they can learn and apply the principles into their lives (their biggest problems arise from not controlling their thoughts and actions). This material is great for adults, but just think of the effect it would have if kids were to learn how to control their willpower at a younger age. I should end up with something that could turn into your book for youth. Would you be interested in me sending it to you when it is completed?
Hi Kelly, I’m 40 years old entrepreneur from Ukraine. Your book was the first book in my life that I decided to read again after I’ve just finished reading it . Great study. Thank You. Evgeniy