Are You Ready For Change?

I want to discuss the process of change with you today.

So often, we set lofty goals that we don’t plan to follow through on because we are just not aware of how ready we are to make change.

Let’s discuss the stages of change.

Stage One: Pre-Contemplation

Pre-contemplation. If your goal is to gain muscle, your pre-contemplation phase may be realizing that you can’t carry your groceries into the house and you want to be stronger. It’s recognizing there is a perceived problem.

Stage Two: Contemplation

Contemplation is when we are considering doing something about it. We haven’t committed yet but we’re considering it. For me, this happens all the time. I proceed from pre-contemplation to contemplation pretty quickly. This phase is all about collecting data and seeing what options are out there. Maybe it’s Googling or speaking to a coach about what needs to happen for you to get stronger.

Stage Three: Planning

Planning is putting the plan into place. It’s saying that based on the studies, it looks like if you do strength training and hit the big muscle groups three times a week, and fuel your body properly, you can gain muscle. Ideally, we’ll be very careful to create a realistic plan.

Stage Four: Take Action

The next step is taking action and executing your plan. Note that if we pick something that’s more than we can handle, we’re likely to lose motivation right away. Not being able to stick to your plan can create feelings of failure that crush our motivation. We have thoughts of, “I can’t do this. Why did I think I could do this?”, which makes it hard to stay motivated.

Stage Five: Maintenance 

When it comes to goals and health, sustainability is my favorite word. Anybody can try something and get results and move on, but we want to sustain our results forever. Many of us think it’s too late for us, that we’re past our prime. But I think we’re just getting started.

Where are you in this process?

If you are having trouble making a plan... I suggest you listen to my podcast, “I Am Overwhelmed.” This is where I discuss my 3-2-1 principle. It will help you create space in your day to start moving toward making the changes that you want. You can listen here.