Hoping to wake up as some new, ideal you in 2013? Most New Year’s resolutions are based on the assumption that who you really are is inadequate, and must be improved through self-discipline, joyless striving, and maybe a leftover Christmas miracle. I invite you to take a different approach this year, one that starts from […]
I’m frequently asked questions about how to get started meditating, what is the best meditation for beginners, what is the best meditation for reducing stress (or training willpower, or cultivating self-compassion, or developing focus, etc.). Below is my favorite meditation for all these intentions. You can listen to (or download) a version of these instructions […]
For the first time ever, I taught one of my 6-week courses live online this year. The videos from this course, along with all supportive class materials (e.g. guided practice MP3s, worksheets/homework exercises), are available for you to guide yourself through the course at your own pace. See below for all the course details, and […]
About two years ago, some participants in my Science of Willpower course started to name “technology addiction” as their main willpower challenge. It’s only accelerated since then, as we’ve fallen more fully in love with our devices. Last week I stopped by the Toronto studios of the CBC to give the following 3-min advice about how […]
Author and Stanford University psychologist Kelly McGonigal, PhD, discusses strategies from her new book “The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It,” followed by Q&A. Topics include dieting/weight loss, health, addiction, quitting smoking, procrastination, mindfulness, sleep, cravings, exercise, goal-setting, habits, self-compassion, guilt, and shame. […]
The Science of Mindfulness (PSY 209) Registration open now. Open to the public through Stanford Continuing Studies. Mondays, 7:00 – 8:50 pm 10 weeks, September 24 – December 3 (No class on November 19) 2 unit(s), $365 For thousands of years, meditation has been practiced to calm the mind. But only in the last few decades […]
San Francisco Public Radio did a lovely 1-hr show on the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. The piece features the founder of CCARE, the scientists who are studying compassion, as well as one of my compassion cultivation courses, and stories from students in it. You can download or stream the audio […]
I’m excited to announce the release of my latest audiobook, which presents six live lectures and twelve guided self-reflection and mediation practices. The Neuroscience of Change: A Compassion-Based Guide to Personal Transformation (Sounds True) integrates the most exciting scientific findings about how the mind works with the wisdom of mind-body traditions like yoga and Buddhism. […]
In this 1-hour webisode of the tv show “Dr. Kiki’s Science Hour“, Dr. Kirsten Sanford and Dr. Kelly McGonigal discuss the science of self-control, why and how to become a “willpower scientist” in your own life, and what the latest research says about parenting strategies, behavior change, and motivation. Watch via the link below, or […]
It was a blast to be on The Today Show! Check out the interview discussing my new book The Willpower Instinct, and my Stanford Continuing Studies class “The Science of Willpower.” Click to watch: The Today Show Willpower Tips Interview by Matt Lauer. Original broadcast: 1/3/2012.
Whatever your New Year’s Resolution, there’s a science-help book for you. You’ll get great advice mixed in with the funniest, most fascinating stories and studies science can provide. I put together my favorite science-help books for every possible New Year’s Resolution. Check out the slide show on the Huffington Post’s Books Section. [Excerpted Below] The […]
We’re joined this week by Dr. Kelly McGonigal, to discuss her work at Stanford University, where she is teaching compassion-based practices from the Buddhist tradition, taught in a way that pulls from scientific research and appeals to a secular sensibility. As part of her work with CCARE she shares some of her background with Stanford […]
