The Huberman Lab Podcast discusses neuroscience: how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health. We also discuss existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. His laboratory studies neural regeneration, neuroplasticity, and brain states such as stress, focus, fear, and optimal performance. For more than 20 years, Dr. Huberman has consistently published original research findings and review articles in top-level peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Science, Cell, Neuron, and Current Biology. He is a regular member of several National Institutes of Health review panels and a Fellow of the McKnight Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Dr. Huberman regularly consults for technology development companies, professional athletic organizations, and various units of U.S. and Canadian Special Operations.
How to Increase Your Willpower & Tenacity
In this episode, I discuss neuroscience and psychology studies that address the basis of willpower and tenacity, how they differ from motivation and how we can all increase our levels of willpower and tenacity. I discuss whether willpower is a limited resource, the controversial “ego depletion” theory of willpower and the role that beliefs play in determining our tenacity and willpower. Then, I discuss the neural basis of willpower in the brain and body and how tenacity and willpower relate to sleep, stress, focus, and possibly lifespan. Then, I provide a series of science-supported tools and protocols to increase your level of tenacity and willpower.
For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.
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Timestamps
(00:00:00) Tenacity & Willpower
(00:01:19) Sponsors: Maui Nui & Helix Sleep
(00:03:49) Tenacity & Willpower vs. Habit Execution; Apathy, Depression & Motivation
(00:10:40) Ego Depletion & Willpower as a Limited Resource; Controversy
(00:19:14) Tool: Autonomic Function, Tenacity & Willpower; Sleep & Stress
(00:28:02) Sponsor: AG1
(00:28:58) Willpower as a Limited Resource (Theory)
(00:35:36) Willpower & Glucose, Brain Energetics
(00:42:44) Beliefs about Willpower & Glucose; Multiple Challenges
(00:52:43) Sponsor: LMNT
(00:54:01) Willpower Brain ‘Hub’; Anorexia Nervosa, Super-Agers
(01:07:15) Anterior Midcingulate Cortex & Brain/Body Communication
(01:14:54) Allostasis, Anterior Midcingulate Cortex Function
(01:25:19) Anterior Mid-Cingulate Cortex (aMCC), Difficult Tasks & Neuroplasticity
(01:29:30) Tool: Novel Physical Exercise & Brain; Cognitive Exercise
(01:43:43) Tool: “Micro-sucks”, Increase Tenacity/Willpower
(01:50:58) Impossible Tasks, Super-Agers & Learning, Will to Live
(01:57:23) Tool: Rewards & Improving Tenacity/Willpower
(02:01:07) Tenacity & Willpower Recap
(02:05:55) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac