Here we are in my #MotivationMonday series about Change. This week we are talking all about, Maintenance. Now, if you remember last time, I told you that the number one mistake that people make while trying to change is thinking that Action is the last stage of change. It isn’t. Although modifying your behavior is the most visible stage of change, I would argue that the most important stage of change is Maintenance.
During Maintenance you must work to consolidate the gains you have attained during action and other stages to prevent lapses and relapse. In fact, Maintenance is so important that I would warn anyone that if they are doing any kind of program or therapy that promises easy change- to reconsider. I can almost guarantee them that the program will not address or acknowledge that Maintenance is a long, ongoing process. This is actually one of the reasons why I am unsupportive of inpatient residential facility treatments for eating disorders.
What can you expect during the Maintenance stage of your change? You can expect to be surprised that after doing so well, for so long, suddenly an old behavior will creep up again.
Are you surprised by that? Take heart. If you have been coasting along feeling like everything is clicking along and then you hit the holiday season and start to find yourself backsliding, then know that you are in the maintenance stage. And you need support. Stressful events, and triggers can send a person who thinks they have changed into feeling like are on the brink of losing their all their hard work.
That’s why it’s so crucial to your success to be working with someone throughout the change process who knows your history. You need someone you can call up six months, seven months, 2 years into your change process and just check in with them.
Join me next week when we talk about the final stage of change, Termination.
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