Prochaska, Norcross, and Diclemente wanted to uncover what it was that made people change something positively and permanently in their lives without psychotherapy. By studying more than 1,000 people, they discovered that people were able to change by managing the unwanted habit or addiction.

The authors have introduced a program in their book, “Changing for Good” to help people implement positive personal change. The stages include:

Precontemplation. This is the first stage of change. It doesn’t seem like a stage though because at this phase people are not fully cognizant that it is their behavior they want to change. You may blame others for the problem, feel resistance, deny you have a problem and choose to avoid it. It’s easy to find an excuse…It’s not that bad, it will get better on its own… everyone else is doing it so it must be okay.

Contemplation. This is the stage where you become aware there is a problem. You start thinking about it and realize that there might be a solution. You begin to notice more information about the issue while experiencing some anxiety about the thought of it all.

Preparation. Now you have the intention to change. The idea of the change has become real and is within reach. The benefits of the change are something you want to achieve and you become committed to creating your own plan to make progress.

Action. It’s time to devise a plan. Action requires deciding how you will make the change. Starting out small can be good, while making a radical change may be how you want to tackle the change. Whatever your method is, remember that there is no magic bullet and change comes in different sizes and shapes.

Maintenance. Keep riding that pony is the message here. Expect relapse. It happens. So make a plan how you will enforce you new behavior and how you will handle when relapse occurs. Knowing that relapse may happen, you can prepare for it and not get hit by surprise and give up.

Termination. At the final stage, change has taken place. The former problem, whether an addiction or unwanted behavior, is no longer a threat.

Click here to download an "action Plan" sheet.