Readiness to change
Readiness for change is the degree to which a person recognizes the need for change, is willing to undertake it and has the resources to act.
Definition
Readiness for change is not a binary state. Behavior change models describe stages from lack of intention, through consideration, preparation and action, to maintenance. Recognizing the stage is important because a person who is just seeing a problem needs different support than a person who is already implementing a new behavior.
Key ideas
- Stages of change
- Ambivalence
- Aligning strategy with readiness
Practice and life
Rate on a scale of 1-10: how important the change is, how much you believe in it and how ready you are to take the first step this week.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to force yourself to make a big change without preparation. The second mistake is to treat ambivalence as evidence that change does not make sense.
> Change begins not when necessary, but when a person is ready to see his part.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- At what stage of change am I?
- What do I need to go one step further?
- What stops me from taking action despite being aware of the problem?