Motivation for Change

Monday morning motivation! What happens when goals have been buried for a while and they start to burn on your brain. I wish I could find the motivation to put those goals into action. How do I do it? What are the barriers? How can I help myself achieve my dreams?

You're not alone if procrastination is regularly on the menu. You see ... change is a process. They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit and rewire the brain. Isn't neuroscience and the human brain amazing!

Getting ready to make change is a process. If I really want to walk the dog daily I might contemplate and even ruminate on being the responsible loving dog owner I really want to be. Then in preparation I might buy a lead for the dog and go to bed early so I can try to get up to walk the dog before work. In terms of actioning the goal ... I would snap into action if I actually got out of bed to walk the dog in the morning when the alarm goes off!  Then I could make it a new habit daily. Once I achieve my goal, I feel better about being a responsible dog owner and have a contented and healthy dog. I get healthy along the way too.

The Stages of Change model was developed by researchers James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente. The model is widely used in case management and coaching today. I've used it for over 20 years in counselling and case management coaching. Knowing which stage you're at is helpful to assess readiness for action: Precontemplation > Contemplation > Preparation > Action > Maintenance and the occasional lapse or relapse.  

So how do you know which stage you are at in the change process? Checkout my free Stages of Change worksheet here. It can be a good reminder on the fridge to help you stay on track to reach your goals. You can also collect some of these free worksheets for you or your clients at my NDIS Network luncheons in NSW on the Central Coast 22/6/21 and Hornsby 25/6/21.

When I first meet a client I often ask them to self assess which stage they are at in the stages of change model. Then I get a sense if they are more suited for counselling or ready for coaching to work on the actual goals. Readiness for recovery coaching or life coaching is usually if they are at step two (contemplation) or three (preparation for change). I'd love to hear your dog walking stories and how you have got the motivation for change. In fact there's a good topic for my next blog ... 'Motivational Interviewing'!

Have a great week!
Tania 
Tania Gorry is a counsellor in private practice on the Central Coast of NSW. Tania founded Whole Warrior Solutions where she is also active in community development work for people living with disabilities and their providers. The NDIS Network is a rapidly growing community of NDIS providers and Tania has  over 10,500  followers on social media!