Dr. James O. Prochaska, PH.D. is a specialist in the psychology of behavior change. He wanted to know why people would not and seemly could not change even when faced with certain disaster if they persisted in the same habits. While he was at the University of Rhode Island, he and his graduate assistants studied people who had successfully quit smoking for a number of years. When they looked through all the theories of change, there was no one theory that explained what they were discovering.

He and his assistants formulated from the data and wrote the description of what is known as the transtheoretical approach to change.

This approach has 5-7 stages of change.

The stages are known as pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance.

There are two other phases called recycling and termination also.

Most will go through recycling when they falter in their effort as they move from one stage to another.

People changing behavior will use what they have learned and recycle it in their plan to get back on track to achieve total mastery of the desired habit.

There are questions you can ask yourself. This will help you know what stage you are in and what action you should take now. Stages are behavior specific. People are not contemplators but display contemplative behavior.

(I also discuss these questions with my patients who smoke to help them identify where they are with quitting this dangerous habit.)

These questions are:

When you think about changing do you feel like - I can’t or I won’t make this change. This person is in pre-contemplation.

They are trapped by their behavior or don’t acknowledge a need for change.

Do you think - I want to but not yet. You are about 90 days away from the action stage. The benefit of change is still smaller than the benefit of your current behavior. You should read and talk to people who have done what you want to do. You need more information about how you will benefit from a behavior change.

Are your thoughts - I want to and I am going to soon. This is preparation. You are ready to act in 30 days.

Once you have written a SMARRT goal and a recycle plan you are ready for the action stage of change. Read more from Dr. Prochaska in his book.

I am teaching much more about this in my teleseminars starting twice a week(Monday and Thursday) on July 14. I invite you to register for this seminar by filling out the form in the far right column. The seminar is free and you can also get my free report until Jul 14. It will cost you your email address - I will protect it like my own. I would also like a testimonial if you attend and find the information useful.

Popularity: 4% [?]