First, I am going to lay out the steps so you can fully grasp the
concept. The initial step is precontemplation, which essentially is someone not
willing to change. I say these people are completely unaware of their life and
their existence as a whole. You don’t want to be this guy because he is not
going anywhere fast, even less than the speed of a snail with 50-pound weights underneath
its shell. Maybe these people are already happy and in a state of bliss, until a
bomb known as reality strikes with no mercy. The future will come with frightening
surprises and catch these people off guard. They take for granted the pros in
their life and put no emphasis on the cons. Depression will set in and it will
be an immense feeling, until that person decides it is time for change.
The second step is when the person knows and plans on a life change.
This step is called contemplation. Just to let you guys know, about 80% of the
population is stuck within these first two stages. Those in the second stage
are a hundred steps ahead of the precontemplators. People currently in the
second stage notice that there are problematic factors in their lives, rather
if it be physically or mentally. They intend to start improving this behavior,
but can’t seem to find the right spot to pounce upon. They recognize both the
pros and cons in their life, but still have that feeling of ambivalence
lingering around. These mixed feeling contradict their ideas and improvement is
hard to find. That feeling of doubt is the main reason why people give up.
There are many others, such as quitting too soon, or not having the patience,
but that feeling of doubt takes over the mind, and will suppress self-promotion.
I do feel apathy for those in this stage because all they need is that one
push. That one push is just as hard, if not harder than getting started in
putting the first foot forward.
Once somebody is in the right direction and ready for change we can go
on to the third stage of the model. Once at this step, preparation, the person realizes
the flaws and is ready to improve and act upon them. They’re ready to make the
change and now need the tools to help better themselves. These next small steps
will help someone head towards completing the model and complete themselves as
well. I also like to call this the stage the determination phase. This phase
will lead people to a overall healthier life. This person is ready and prepared
to take on the beasts ahead whatever they may be.
Fast forward one month and this person is in the action phase of the model.
The scary part of this phase is that the person may give up more easily because
they don’t see any change in themselves or results don’t last. The intention to
keep moving forward can either grow or deteriorate in a person. If that person
does give up, the model may start again from the 2nd step, where the
person knows a change has to be done, but doesn’t know how to approach it. On
the bright side, those who do stick with the plan and keep pushing will soon
find themselves six months later in the next phase, where they don’t even have to
exhibit the problems anymore. Instead they will modify their problematic
behaviors, and turn them into knowledge gaining and positive ones.
The fifth phase is known as the maintenance phase. In this stage, the
person fully understands their behavior and has sustained benefits from changing
that behavior. And guess what. These people will maintain these behavior
changes and take note when something is not going according to plan. Instead of
whining about their problems they will act to resolve issues along the road of
acquiring the new healthy behaviors they have been working so hard to achieve.
There will be many mistakes made throughout the five steps I have spoken about,
but the margin of error will never outweigh reaching the goals you set out.
Throughout this prolonged phase people will work to prevent a relapse of their
old habits. After time and many months of stress, the sixth phase will be right
around the corner.
The sixth and final step of the model is known as the termination phase.
In this phase the person has been successful in the maintenance phase for about
five years. That may seem like a lot of time, but once you know relapse is
unlikely to happen, you have successfully completed the model and your healthy
behavior will stick with you for life. Believe it or not, not many people make
it to this stage. It is easy to relapse back into old habits and pain will come
of this. But the reward and knowledge obtained throughout this journey will
change you forever, and the person you once knew before is a distant memory.
The desire to go to old habits and unhealthy behaviors has been eliminated.
I have to say, I applaud those who make it to the maintenance phase. It
is also crazy to think that 80% of people are still stuck in those first two
phases. This model is here as a guide to help unlock yourself and benefit you
and those around you. You have the power to change.
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