Top 17 Quotes & Sayings by Kelly McGonigal

Explore popular quotes and sayings by a psychologist Kelly McGonigal.

Last updated on April 14, 2025.

Kelly McGonigal is a health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University who is known for her work in the field of 'science help' which focuses on translating insights from psychology and neuroscience into practical strategies that support health and well-being. Mainstream media articles about inner-conflict-related aspects of modern lifestyles regularly quote her. A longtime advocate of self-compassion and mindfulness as stress-coping strategies, McGonigal has lately altered her focus on the problematic aspects of stress; in a talk at the TEDGlobal 2013, she emphasized the importance of an individual's subjective belief in themselves as someone who is able to cope successfully as being a crucial factor in their actual response to stress.

Psychologist | Born: October 21, 1977

Source: Wikipedia

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

Kelly McGonigal

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

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

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

Kelly McGonigal

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

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

Kelly McGonigal

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

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

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

Kelly McGonigal

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

Kelly McGonigal

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

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

Kelly McGonigal

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

Kelly McGonigal

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

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

Kelly McGonigal

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

Kelly McGonigal

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

Kelly McGonigal