Changeology: 5 Steps to Realizing Your Goals and Resolutions
By JOHN C. NORCROSS, WITH KRISTIN LOBERG AND JONATHON NORCROSSReviewed by JOSEPH MALDONADO, MS
“Changeology will prove to be a wonderful source of assistance. It has an easy-to-follow formula based on credible research — and even this wary mental health practitioner found it helpful.”
» Changeology: 5 Steps to Realizing Your Goals and Resolutions – Psych Central
psychcentral.com
There is an old joke that asks, “How many therapists does it take to change a light bulb?” Answer: “Only one, but it has to want to change.”
We have featured Dr. John Norcross’ work in his book, “Self-Help That Works”. This new resource is about the change process itself. Based on credible, scientific research, this volume outlines the 5 steps that have been proven to bring people to lasting change. This is not a quick fix. This is a dedicated, committed approach with specific skills which when employed will bring change in your life. It requires hard work and at least three months of acting on these new behaviors. The motivational speaker that presents the “my way is the one way”, “my way is the quick way” pitch should be treated with caution because REAL, LASTING CHANGE requires:
- Awareness- understanding myself, what I want to change, why I want to change and why past attempts have failed. I need to examine my actual behavior and clearly identify a specific change goal.
- Motivation- what behavior needs to be modified, how can it be measured, what are the positive consequences to this chnge and what would the negative results be of not making the change. Allow emotions to help propel behavior as a plan for change is established.
- Action- now that new behaviors have benn identified and a plan for execution and monitoring has be established, it is time for action! Start doing the new behvaiors.
- Keep going- stay with it, deal with the setbacks and slips into old habits and old thinking.
- Embrace the “new you”– have a maintenance plan to sustain the change.
Dr. Norcross indentifies these 5 steps as: Pysch, Prep, Perspire, Persevere and Persist He clearly sets out the skills needed for each stage of change. These are the tools one needs for success. A motivational speaker may have great ideas and may motivate you to change but the real change agent in your life is YOU. You wanting change; you seeking growth; you thinking differently; and ultimately YOU doing the hard work to accomplish your goals. Go for it!