Are You Ready for Change?
/By Kristi Burgess
Annual events like birthdays and anniversaries prompt a reflection of where we have been and where we are going in life. The same can happen in new beginnings like the first of the year, first day of school, or first day on a new job. We set goals for change – I want to be different in the next year of life or with this new group of coworkers. Perhaps we want to be more open to new ideas, make better decisions, or take new steps toward living life on purpose.
But then something happens. We get distracted or we lose our focus and energy for change. While purposeful change is difficult for many reasons, it can help if we consider which stage of change we are currently experiencing. Researchers named Prochaska and DiClemente identified 6 Stages of Change that people go through in the process of change:
Pre-contemplation – we see no need to change and choose to defend our habits
Contemplation – we are more aware of our habits and weigh the pros and cons of changing but are undecided; part of us wants to make the change, and part of us does not
Preparation – here we are beginning to say, “I need to do something about this,” and then we gather information on strategies and resources that may be needed in order to change
Action – in this stage, we take steps to change our behaviors by developing plans and taking action
Maintenance – as we remind ourselves of the progress we have made, we look for ways to motivate ourselves to sustain the change rather than revert to old ways
Termination – former behaviors are no longer seen as desirable
