Sometimes, a little advice goes a long way. And, sometimes, advice goes nowhere. So much depends on the person who is listening. Are they ready to hear it? Do they feel the need for a change? Especially when it comes to actually taking action to change behavior.

The well-known Transtheoretical (Stages of Change) Model, developed by Prochaska and DiClemente, breaks down the path to action and beyond. To review, the stages are precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. Action is the fourth stage. It is apparent that it can take a while to get to the action stage. However, it can mean that by the time someone gets to the action stage, they are really in the game. They have figured out what they are willing to do.

Since it is January as I write this, and since I have spent decades in health and fitness, I am well aware of the dreaded New Year’s resolutions that can come along this time of year. Gym memberships swell, and diet programs are doing their best business of the year.

Perhaps that is not all bad! When the new year comes along, we are encouraged to look inward and ask ourselves if there is anything we would like to do differently. This can apply to many areas of our lives, like our jobs, careers, family, where we live, and how we look after ourselves. We take a look at our priorities, our goals, and our hopes. To sum it up, this all relates to our personal........

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