How to Make Change a Reality

There are a lot of theories on how one changes something about their life. This post and video discusses a few principles that need to be understood and applied to change effectively. Changing a habit or life style is hard. If change were easy we all would be who and what we exactly want to be.

However, if we understand the principles of effective change, we can change anything about ourselves that we want to. So, what does it take? 

We need self-efficacy if we want to change something about ourselves. Self-efficacy is believing that we are capable of change. In my private practice, I find that lacking self-efficacy is probably one of the primary stumbling blocks to change. You can put a lot of effort into change and apply a lot of good techniques to make that change possible, but if you do not believe that you capable of changing or accomplishing what you want to change or accomplish, you eventually will fail. 

Once you believe you are capable of making a change, you have to be ready to change. Readiness to change means you ready to take action. But action is not the first stage of change. There is a great book on change called Changing for Good: A Revolutionary Six-Stage Program for Overcoming Bad Habits and Moving Your Life Positively Forward. It is important to understand what stage you at when beginning to change something about your life. (There sill be an entire video and post on the Stages of Change in the near future.) For purposes of this blog, I will only list them with a brief description of each. 

1. Precontemplation: This is the proverbial denial stage. If you are in this stage of change, you probably are not reading this:) People in this stage believe that everyone else needs to change, not them. 
2. ​Contemplation: This is the "thinking" stage of change. If you are in this stage of change, you know you want to change something but you are not quite ready to do so and may not be in the near future. 
3. Preparation: This is the planning stage of change. You very close to changing what it is that you want to. You are doing you research and developing your plan to begin the change. 
4. ​Action: This is where change happens. You decide to implement your plan and embark on your journey of the new and better you! 
5. ​Maintenance: This is continued change over time. Your new habit has now become second nature. 

Finally, you must be willing to put maximum effort into what you are changing. If you are not willing to do whatever it takes to make the change, you will not be successful. Again, anything worthwhile takes effort. Overcoming an unhealthy behavior or starting a healthy behavior takes determination and willingness to give your all! 

​Questions to Consider: 
1. Do you believe you are capable to change what it is that you want to change? 
2. What stage of change are you in? 
​3. Are you willing to do what every it takes and put in maximum effort to make the change? 

Challenge: 
Share with someone the answers to above questions and start the change!