By Donna V. Scaglione
Did you make a New Year’s resolution this year? Among those of us who did, nearly 50 percent will still be sticking to them six months from now, according to behavioral change researchers. And that’s a good thing because the goals we set are typically life preserving and self improving: losing weight, exercising regularly, kicking cigarettes. The road to change is far from easy — the couch beckons when we should be on the treadmill — but mental health experts say that with a clear understanding of how change occurs and the right support, success is possible.
1. Think long term
Meaningful change takes time and typically follows six stages, says John C. Norcross, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Scranton and co-author of the book “Change for Good.” He and co-authors James O. Prochaska, Ph.D., and Carlo C. DiClemente, Ph.D., argue it’s not willpower that brings about change but the ability to understand how the process of change works. Precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination comprise the six-stage model. “A key to successful change is in knowing what stage you are in for the problem at hand,” they write. “Our research has consistently shown that people who try to accomplish changes they are not ready for set themselves up for failure.”
