[[:encoded, "One of the most difficult challenges of sticking to your goals personally and professionally is changing your behavior. Goals like improving your health, reaching a milestone, or revising daily routines aren’t easy. In fact, studies show that our brains don’t like change, are wired for laziness, and have a limited capacity. Ouch! And we often fail because we don’t practice the correct steps.\n\nAs with any process, there’s an order to follow. For example, when administering first aid, it’s vital to work sequentially. Before caring for an injured or ill person, you should call for help. Then you check for breathing and a pulse to determine if CPR is needed. Next, if a wound is present, you must attempt to protect yourself from bloodborne pathogens before trying to stop bleeding.\n\nOr let’s say you’re painting a room in your house. Obviously, you need to choose your paint color (will it be Arizona Dust? Blissful Blue? Soft Candlelight? Gallery Gray?) and purchase the proper amount. You should then prep the area. You’ll likely move furniture, tape off the trim, and cover the floor with a drop cloth. After all, you wouldn’t want to open that fresh can of paint on unprotected carpet! Putting in the time for preparation saves you a big headache (and extensive clean-up) later on.\n\nLikewise, there are steps to changing behavior in order to successfully reach your goals. Let’s take a closer look at what’s required.\n\nAwareness in Changing Your Behavior\n\nTo make any significant changes, you’ll first want to understand what’s going on in your brain when trying to stick with your goals. There are six possible stages that you’ll go through:\n\n1.\tPre-contemplation. At this point, you’re not interested in making any changes. In fact, you don’t consider your actions as problematic or lacking, and you’ll likely continue in your normal everyday behavior. You’d probably feel defensive if someone approached you and suggested change.\n\n2.\tContemplation. By now, you’ve contemplated, or thought about, making changes. You’re open to suggestions but a bit ambivalent. And you may not be entirely sure that you want to move forward. Often, this stage lasts the longest because spurring yourself to action can feel like an overwhelming battle.\n\n3.\tPreparation. Here, you’ve committed to change. You’re researching resources and strategies to be successful. You’re preparing to move forward with changes. You actually take the needed steps to reach your goal. I should point

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