--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The is a secret for greater self-control…" description: "\"The is a secret for greater self-control, the science points to one thing: the power of paying attention.\" — Kelly McGonigal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_attention_the-is-a-secret-for-greater-self-control_571749.jpg" --- # The is a secret for greater self-control, the science… ![“The is a secret for greater self-control, the science points to one thing: the power of paying attention.” quote by Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_attention_the-is-a-secret-for-greater-self-control_571749.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_attention_the-is-a-secret-for-greater-self-control_571749.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_attention_the-is-a-secret-for-greater-self-control_571749.jpg) > “The is a secret for greater self-control, the science points to one thing: the power of paying attention.” [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attention is the key lever for self‑control; focusing awareness strengthens willpower. **In simple terms:** Paying attention boosts self‑control. Key Takeaway Practice mindful focus to improve discipline. Themes self‑control mindfulness psychology Mood motivational practical Type self‑help educational When to use this quote - studying - exercise - habit formation - stress management Key Concepts attention neuroscience Questions to Reflect On - How can you train attention in daily life? - What distractions most undermine your self‑control? A Different Perspective Attention can be hijacked by distractions, limiting effectiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Control Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-science-4716970/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Pay attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-attention/) [Paying Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paying-attention/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-control/) ## Related quotes > [Gluttony should be destroyed by self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing for the blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/gluttony-should-be-destroyed-by-self-control-unchastity-by-desire-for/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [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.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/self-compassion-being-supportive-and-kind-to-yourself-especially-in/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [When you are dealing with a mass movement, as opposed to a quote-unquote "elite," you are talking to people who don't have time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hamilton/when-you-are-dealing-with-a-mass-movement-as-opposed-to-a-quote/) [Rebecca Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hamilton/) > [We must work on our souls, enlarging and expanding them. We do so by experiencing all of life-the beauty and the joy as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/we-must-work-on-our-souls-enlarging-and-expanding-them-we-do-so-by/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [There is meaning in all things. But are you paying attention?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/there-is-meaning-in-all-things-but-are-you-paying-attention/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [Paying attention and awareness are universal capacities of human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/paying-attention-and-awareness-are-universal-capacities-of-human/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [Staring at her face, she began to fancy her outer layer had begun to melt away while she wasn't paying attention, and something --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/staring-at-her-face-she-began-to-fancy-her-outer-layer-had-begun-to/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [ \[If\] we can celebrate that in a way that celebrates our love for New England as well as our love for the Italian culture… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-batali/if-we-can-celebrate-that-in-a-way-that-celebrates-our-love-for-new/) [Mario Batali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-batali/) > [If we never leave our house except to drive to work, do we need to be even remotely aware of this powerful, humbling, extraordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/if-we-never-leave-our-house-except-to-drive-to-work-do-we-need-to-be/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I think in any writing you're paying attention to detail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/i-think-in-any-writing-you-re-paying-attention-to-detail/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [We often miss hearing God's voice simply because we aren't paying attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-often-miss-hearing-god-s-voice-simply-because-we-aren-t-paying/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Niches set back in the walls contained polished marble statues of entwined bodies. Will looked away from them hastily, and then back. It wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/niches-set-back-in-the-walls-contained-polished-marble-statues-of/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I want people to just be paying attention even if they're not necessarily laughing at something, or if it takes them a while to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-want-people-to-just-be-paying-attention-even-if-they-re-not/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [I want my whole life to be a great work of art, not just my art. And that means paying attention to my entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel/i-want-my-whole-life-to-be-a-great-work-of-art-not-just-my-art-and/) [Jewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel/) > [There is a nationwide shortage of drugs for Attention Deficit Disorder. The FDA says they're not sure how it happened. I guess somebody wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/there-is-a-nationwide-shortage-of-drugs-for-attention-deficit/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) ## More by Kelly McGonigal > [“Although dieting is a long standing American pastime, as a method of losing weight it stinks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/although-dieting-is-a-long-standing-american-pastime-as-a-method-of/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [“you’re going to abandon in a week, and there’s no scientific consensus about how much exercise you need to do. A 2010 analysis”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/you-re-going-to-abandon-in-a-week-and-there-s-no-scientific-consensus/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [Chasing meaning is better for your health than trying to avoid discomfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/chasing-meaning-is-better-for-your-health-than-trying-to-avoid/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [Go after what it is that creates meaning in your life and then trust yourself to handle the stress that follows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/go-after-what-it-is-that-creates-meaning-in-your-life-and-then-trust/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [“Ask your brain to do math every day, and it gets better at math. Ask your brain to worry, and it gets better at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/ask-your-brain-to-do-math-every-day-and-it-gets-better-at-math-ask/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/for-most-of-us-the-classic-test-of-willpower-is-resisting-temptation/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [“Stress and meaning are inextricably linked. You don’t stress out about things you don’t care about, and you can’t create a meaningful life without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/stress-and-meaning-are-inextricably-linked-you-don-t-stress-out-about/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [“Meditation is not about getting rid of all your thoughts; it’s learning not to get so lost in them that you forget what your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/meditation-is-not-about-getting-rid-of-all-your-thoughts-it-s/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [The development of willpower -I will, I won't and I want- may define what it means to be human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/the-development-of-willpower-i-will-i-won-t-and-i-want-may-define/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [When your mind is preoccupied, your impulses—not your long-term goals—will guide your choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/when-your-mind-is-preoccupied-your-impulses-not-your-long-term-goals/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [“Though our survival system doesn’t always work to our advantage, it is a mistake to think we should conquer the primitive self completely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/though-our-survival-system-doesn-t-always-work-to-our-advantage-it-is/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [“is easiest. Consider a smoker who wants to quit. She needs to recognize the first sign of a craving, and where it’s likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/is-easiest-consider-a-smoker-who-wants-to-quit-she-needs-to-recognize/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [“Research shows that people who think they have the most willpower are actually the most likely to lose control when tempted.1 For example, smokers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/research-shows-that-people-who-think-they-have-the-most-willpower-are/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [“Case in point: Warnings on cigarette packages can increase a smoker’s urge to light up. A 2009 study found that death warnings trigger stress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/case-in-point-warnings-on-cigarette-packages-can-increase-a-smoker-s/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/self-compassion-being-supportive-and-kind-to-yourself-especially-in/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) [Explore all 30 Kelly McGonigal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The is a secret for greater self-control, the science points to one thing: the power of paying attention.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kelly McGonigal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/the-is-a-secret-for-greater-self-control-the-science-points-to-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attention" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/the-is-a-secret-for-greater-self-control-the-science-points-to-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_attention_the-is-a-secret-for-greater-self-control_571749.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_attention_the-is-a-secret-for-greater-self-control_571749.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_attention_the-is-a-secret-for-greater-self-control_571749.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The is a secret for greater self-control, the science points to one thing: the power of paying attention.” — Kelly McGonigal", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kelly McGonigal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The is a secret for greater...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/the-is-a-secret-for-greater-self-control-the-science-points-to-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/the-is-a-secret-for-greater-self-control-the-science-points-to-one/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```