Why willpower alone fails

In today’s episode, you’re going to learn exactly how to achieve your goals, stay motivated, and create real, lasting change in your life. 

If you’ve struggled to create change that sticks… 

If you know exactly what you want to change, but can’t follow through… 
If you’re tired of blaming willpower… 

This conversation will give you clarity, relief, and a proven way forward. 

Joining Mel today is Dr. Katy Milkman, PhD, one of the world’s leading behavioral scientists, an endowed professor at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and co-founder of the Behavior Change for Good Initiative. 

In her lab at UPenn, Dr. Milkman consolidated the findings from 192 researchers and found that there are 7 hidden barriers that stop people from changing, even when they desperately want to. 

Today, she walks through each of the 7 barriers and explains why each barrier requires a different, evidence-backed strategy. Trying harder doesn’t work. Using the right tool does. 

Dr. Milkman will also share the secret weapon for creating real change in your life called the Fresh Start Effect. 

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

-The real reason change feels so hard – and why you’re not lazy, broken, or lacking discipline 

-The 7 hidden barriers that quietly stop you from following through 
-How to identify which barrier is blocking you 

-Why willpower keeps letting you down and what works when motivation disappears -Why procrastination, impulsivity, and forgetting are predictable and the simple tools that stop them 
-How to make hard habits feel easier and more rewarding, so they finally stick 
-The science-backed way to design your environment for success instead of relying on self-control 
 

In this conversation, Dr. Milkman gives you a practical framework to stop fighting yourself and start working with how your brain actually functions. 

If you’re ready for this year to be different, this episode is for you. You’re not broken. You’re not behind. And once you understand the science, change finally becomes possible. 

For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page.  

If you liked the episode, check out this one next: The 7‑Day Habit Reset: Start Today, Feel Different By Next Week

As a gift to listeners of The Mel Robbins Podcast, Mel has created a free 20-page workbook to help you make 2026 a great year. This workbook is designed using the latest research to help you get clear about what you want and empower you to take the next step forward in your life. And the cool part? It takes less than a minute for you to get your hands on it. Just sign up at melrobbins.com/bestyear. 

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