change or they are convinced that change is impossible. An example would 
be someone who is very overweight and is convinced that nothing can be 
done about it. (So why bother trying?)
2. Contemplation . At this stage, the individual intends to change sometime 
soon (for example, in the next six months). The person is aware of the ben -
eﬁts of changing but is also still focused on the possible costs. An example 
is a smoker who’s thinking about quitting in a few months.
3. Preparation . At this stage, the person is ready to change in the near future 
(for example, in the next month). The beneﬁts of change are much more 
obvious to the person than the costs of changing. An example is someone 
who has decided to join a gym in a couple of weeks to become more ﬁt.
4. Action . At this stage, the individual actually takes steps to change a problem 
behavior. For example, an individual who feels depressed might start to see 
a therapist for depression.