By: Jason Ulanet, MSCP
New Year's has always served as a convenient deadline for
initiating behavioral change; "I'll begin changing as soon as the calendar
changes" is the underlying message of all New Year's resolutions. The
first steps on the path leading away from longstanding unhealthy habits are
often intimidating and confusing, leaving us discouraged and demoralized.
As a result these resolutions wind up either partially or completely broken and
change does not occur. Becoming familiar with the Stages of Change model can help
clarify why some efforts to change are successful and others are not.