
Kelly McGonigal
Willpower is not a moral virtue but a biological function that can be trained, exhausted, and strengthened through targeted psychological and physical habits.
Willpower consists of three distinct cognitive powers: the ability to do what is difficult, the strength to resist temptation, and the clarity to remember your long-term goals.
Because self-control is a biological resource tied to your heart rate variability and blood sugar, it requires adequate sleep, regular exercise, and low-glycemic nutrition to function properly.
Viewing self-control as a moral issue leads to moral licensing, where achieving a virtuous goal paradoxically tricks your brain into justifying a subsequent indulgence.