Which Stage of Change Are YOU in?

According to James O. Prochaska, PH.D., there are six stages of change.  Sounds like a lot, huh?  Why would you even care about the stages of change anyway?  The reason is because understanding which stage you're in can help you to grow and to move forward with your goals more quickly.  You can even be in a different stage for each one of your goals. Following are brief explanations of the six stages and some questions you might ask yourself:

Stage 1 -- Pre-Contemplation
The pre-contemplation stage is the stage in which you may not even realize you have a problem.  You may have no desire or intention to change.  The person in pre-contemplation is usually in denial.  He or she will say things like, "I can't" or "I won't".  Prochaska writes that pre-contemplation, "indicates in many cases an active resistance to change."

*Are you in the pre-contemplation stage in any area of your life?
*Are you in denial about something about yourself or about your life?  Maybe a health issue?  A character trait?  A problem that needs to be resolved?

Stage 2 - Contemplation
The contemplation stage is where a person acknowledges a problem and is considering how to solve it.  The individual can see in his/her mind's eye that "change is on the horizon," as Prochaska puts it.  This person is thinking about his/her options.  Contemplators often move to the next stage, but some remain "chronic contemplators."  Prochaska describes these contemplators as those who "substitute thinking for acting, promising that they are going to act 'someday.'"

*Is there an area of your life in which you're in the contemplation stage?  Are you thinking about making any changes?
*Have you noticed any "chronic contemplation" tendencies in yourself?  Do you like to talk about your problems without ever taking any action to solve them?

 Stage 3 - Preparation
The preparation stage is the "getting ready" stage, and as Prochaska states, "brings you to the edge of action."  In the preparation stage the person begins to focus more on the solution than on the problem, and thinks more about the future than on the past.  A person may become excited about the change they are about to make in this stage. A hallmark of the preparation stage is commitment.  Prochaska claims that most people remain in the preparation stage for an average of 30 days.

*Are you in the preparation stage with of any of your goals?
*What types of things are you doing to prepare to make the change?  Are you reading or researching to gain necessary knowledge?  Do you have the resources you need to make the change?  Do you need support to make the change?  If so, have you asked for help?

Stage 4 - Action
The action stage is the stage when change starts to occur and the person makes a move.  This is also the stage when an individual will "go public" with the change they are making, indicating a readiness for change.  This is the busiest of all the stages and requires lots of effort and support.  Understanding any pitfalls that may trip you up is important in this stage so that you can be prepared for and overcome them.

*Are you in the action phase with any of your goals?
*Have you taken action on any important goals?  Have you "gone public" with any goals in the past?  Did "going public" make you feel more accountable to your goal?  How did you successfully overcome hurdles/challenges in the action stage?

Stage 5 - Maintenance
The maintenance stage is all about maintaining your goal once you've reached it.  Prochaska says that most people are in the maintenance stage anywhere between six months to a lifetime.  This is also a very active stage and is not a time for slacking off of goals; rather the maintenance stage is a time to ensure that the change is here to stay and becomes a permanent part of your life.

*Are you in the maintenance stage with any of your goals?
*Has it been difficult for you to maintain a change you've made?  What kinds of things can get in the way of making a permanent change?

Stage 6 - Termination
The termination stage is the ultimate goal, when you no longer have the problem.  For instance, if you had a goal of moving from one house to another there would be a clear end to the situation.  However, for most types of change people usually remain in the maintenance stage.  For example, staying at a healthy weight would require most people to remain in the maintenance stage.

*Are you in the termination stage with any of your goals?
*Do you typically remain in the maintenance stage? 

Can you see how you've moved through these stages in your life with various goals?  Remember, you can be in a different stage of change with each of your goals.

I hope this short summary of the six stages of change provides some insight about the change process. For more information or an expanded explanation of the stages of change, you can read "Changing for Good" by James O. Prochaska.