Kelly McGonigal is a health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. She aims to translate insights from psychology and neuroscience into practical strategies for personal well-being and community strength.
Kelly is the author of several books, including the international bestseller "The Willpower Instinct," "The Upside of Stress," and her latest, "The Joy of Movement." Her newest book explores how movement is essential to happiness and humanity, arguing that exercise should be a source of joy rather than a chore. Through a blend of science and storytelling, she explains how movement is linked to basic human joys like self-expression and social connection and how it combats modern issues such as depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
Her 2013 TED talk, "How to Make Stress Your Friend," is among the 20 most-viewed TED talks, with over 31 million views. At the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism, Kelly co-authored the Stanford Compassion Cultivation Training and researches how social connection can enhance health, happiness, and resilience.
Kelly has consulted for various non-profit organisations and industries, bringing evidence-based well-being strategies into workplaces, healthcare, education, technology, and community outreach. In her free time, she advocates for animal rescue and volunteers as an adoption counsellor for Best Friends Animal Society.
Physically active individuals are happier, with a stronger sense of purpose and more gratitude, love, and hope. They feel more connected to their communities and are less prone to loneliness and depression. These benefits span all ages, socioeconomic levels, and cultures. In this talk, Kelly McGonigal will explain how physical activity fosters resilience, belonging, and meaning in life, covering biological, psychological, and social aspects. Attendees will learn why exercise enhances joy and social connection.
Stress is unavoidable, but is it always harmful? Stanford psychologist and award-winning author Kelly McGonigal, offers a surprising new perspective, revealing the benefits of stress. According to the latest science, stress can make us smarter, stronger, and more resilient, and even strengthen close relationships. Attendees will learn how to cultivate a mindset that helps them thrive under stress and simple strategies to transform their stress response, improving health and wellbeing.
According to the American Psychological Association, Americans cite “not enough willpower” as the top barrier to achieving their goals. Kelly McGonigal of Stanford University, author of “The Willpower Instinct” and “The Neuroscience of Change”, reveals that willpower is a trainable instinct. She shares scientific insights on what willpower is, why everyone possesses it, and how to develop it. Attendees will learn practical strategies for enhancing focus, self-control, and overcoming common willpower challenges.
Stanford University psychologist Kelly McGonigal, author of "The Willpower Instinct" and "The Neuroscience of Change", explores why change is challenging and how to succeed. She reveals that common strategies like stress, self-criticism, and guilt often hinder progress. Instead, she advocates for mindfulness, self-compassion, and social support as keys to lasting change. Attendees will learn practical, science-based strategies for initiating change, managing an overwhelmed brain, overcoming setbacks, and maintaining motivation.
Stanford University health psychologist Kelly McGonigal, author of “The Willpower Instinct” and “The Neuroscience of Change”, delves into the latest neuroscientific and psychological insights on behaviour change. She explains the three facets of willpower— “I won’t” power, “I will” power, and “I want” power—and how they can transform habits. Attendees will learn why stress undermines change, how to foster control and hope, and strategies for enhancing patient compliance and behaviour change, making willpower more effective and contagious.
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