Emotional Success

Psychologist David DeSteno argues that three prosocial emotions, gratitude, compassion and pride, offer an easier route to grit than willpower and self-denial. Where willpower runs down quickly, he says, these feelings grow stronger with use, and they spread to the people around those who show them. In his account they evolved to help humans resist immediate temptation for the sake of longer-term gains, first by building lasting relationships with others. DeSteno shows how the same emotions can strengthen ties with one's own future self, the person who benefits most from perseverance and impulse control. The goal he sets is reaching any aim with less strain and deeper satisfaction.

Lewis Smith, developer of the BodyTracker weight loss app, said he was listening to it in the hope of using its ideas to help his customers stick to their targets.