Before you can accomplish those three things, however, you must have a firm understanding of the framework for behavior change. Change is a process with distinct stages through which you must progress to realize your ultimate goal.

Find comfort in knowing that you might not necessarily work through these stages in the exact order in which they are presented, and you may go back and forth between several stages before progressing. In this chapter, you’ll find concrete tools and techniques that can facilitate movement from one stage to the next, so take it one step at a time and go at your own pace! Refer to this chapter as you work your way through the rest of the book. It will help you stay focused and keep things in perspective.

The Stages of Change (see the picture below), first conceptualized by psychologists James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente in the late 1970s and early 1980s, can be applied to any type of behavior modification, including diet, exercise, smoking cessation, or implementing any new habit.

The following information should help you get a better understanding of characteristics shared by individuals in each of the stages and provide ideas that empower you to move forward.

No related posts.