Preparing for Life Changes
Stragtegies for goal setting, beating temptations and dealing with setback.
The third of six necessary stages in a successful life change endeavor is preparation. As the Boy Scout motto urges, "Be Prepared" before you jump into action.
To successfully lose weight, stop smoking, or make other difficult life changes, research shows that you must go through six definite stages. The third of the six stages is Preparation; getting ready for action and countering any unanticipated problems.
People who are successful at making life-behavior changes go through each of the following six stages:
- Precontemplation, see Changing Your Life for more on this stage.
- Contemplation, see Serious About Change for more.
- Preparation
- Action
- Maintenance
- Termination
Precontemplation is that stage in which you deny the problem, "I'm a little overweight, but I can lose it any time I want." In the second stage, Contemplation, you recognize that your weight is undermining a healthy future and you start to think seriously about weight loss. If you've moved from denying there is a weight problem to being concerned over your weight, you're probably ready to move on to the next stage of change.
Preparation, the third stage, is critical. Those who jump (or are pushed) into action-oriented programs to stop smoking, lose weight, or reduce credit card debt without sufficient preparation are likely to fail. Though they may make short term gains, they are likely to eventually revert back to old behaviors.
In the preparation stage your self reflection will move from self-criticism to future vision. You'll start to picture the new, healthier you. Your confidence will grow as you gather more and more information, shifting your focus from the problem to achieving behavior changes. For example, rather than continuing to dwell on the medical risks of the extra weight you've been carrying, you'll shift to studying how other people have lost weight and kept it off.
Proper preparation will also involve strategies for dealing with setbacks and temptation. Instead of a second piece of that dessert you love, you'll plan to have a second cup of tea or coffee. Rather than lighting up when you're under stress, you'll learn to slow your breathing and focus on the future, non-smoking you.
Above all, in this stage you'll make your behavior change a high priority. You acquired your current habit over a long period and it's now ingrained in your daily routine. Change will not come easily; but with proper preparation and emphasis, you can be successful. With suitable preparation, you'll be ready to take action and succeed. The Action stage is the focus of next week's article.
