Discover the five stages to challenge your mindset and get unstuck in your thinking. Learn how to confidently move through the stages of change and create lasting personal growth.

Challenge Your Mindset and Get Unstuck
Feeling stuck in your way of thinking can be incredibly frustrating. You want to change, but something holds you back. How often have you made a New Year’s resolution only to become a distant memory by February?
Please do not feel bad. A study completed by the University of Scranton states that only 8% of people achieve their goals. You can read more about the statistics in this article by Ray Williams. The good news is that transforming and challenging your mindset and getting unstuck is possible.
By understanding the stages of change and following a strategic approach, you can see where you are in the process, take the next step, and achieve your goals. In this post, I will walk you through five steps involved in change and try to help you understand the process. By knowing where you stand in the process, you can break free from limiting beliefs holding you back and move forward with confidence, challenge your mindset and get unstuck.

Precontemplation: “I Can’t, I Won’t”
In the first stage of change, pre-contemplation, you might not even think about transforming your mindset or making a change in your life. Even though you may feel unsettled or like something is constantly pulling at you, this uneasy feeling may not be enough to make you believe that change is necessary or that the cons outweigh the pros.
This stage usually involves statements like “I can’t” or “I won’t.” However, recognizing that you’re in this stage is the first step to getting unstuck.
How to Move Forward:
- Show Yourself Empathy: Understand that change is difficult, and feeling uncertain or uneasy is okay. Stuck in a routine is common and often hard to escape. I wrote more on this topic in a previous blog post, “Chaos to Clarity.” The post can provide additional ideas and resources to challenge your mindset and get unstuck.
- Avoid Lectures and Confrontation: Instead of pressuring yourself, explore the idea of change. Do not let other people influence your thoughts or fill you with negative ideas about why making a change is not necessary. In the pre-contemplation stage, it’s easy to believe the words coming your way and stay stuck in an old routine. Remember the saying that references to fly with eagles, you need to get away from the turkeys.
- Engage in Positive Acceptance: Accept your current situation without rushing into action. Don’t fill yourself with negative self-talk. Having self-confidence and believing in yourself can be really hard at times, but building this belief is a start. Consider talking with someone you trust, a true friend who understands and supports you, a family member who will not judge you, or even an online therapist who has your best interest and can provide you with the tools necessary to succeed. Receiving uplifting words of encouragement and positive feedback can go a long way.
Contemplation: “I Might”
In the Contemplation stage, you start thinking about making a change. However, you may need more time to be ready to act. You might be considering the benefits of changing but still feel hesitant. In the contemplation stage, it is important and a great time to start building confidence and trust in yourself as you prepare to transform your mindset. Positive affirmations, guided meditations, or gaining inner coherence are great first steps in this process.
How to Move Forward:
- Write Down Your Reasons for Change: Focus on the pros and why transforming your mindset will benefit you.
- Practice Self-Affirmations: Reinforce your ability to change by building self-trust and engaging in positive self-talk.
- Align Change with Your Values: Identify your strengths, values, and goals. Ask yourself how this change will help you achieve them.
Preparation: “I Will, I Can”
Once you reach the Preparation stage, you’re ready to make a change. Though some anxiety may still linger, the pros are starting to outweigh the cons, and you feel more confident. As confidence builds, this would be a great time to write down and solidify your plans and set yourself up for success.
How to Move Forward:
- Set Concrete Goals: Write down the steps to make your change into manageable action items with specific deadlines.
- Reframe Negative Beliefs: Focus on self-encouragement and the power of positive thinking. Start thinking about how the end goal looks in your mind. Imagine yourself living the change you want to make
- Problem-Solve for Obstacles: Anticipate potential challenges and develop strategies to overcome them. Roadblocks or obstacles will occur. Do not let them stop you. Even if you do not see the obstacle coming, try to find a workaround and keep moving forward.
- Visualize Success: Imagine what success looks like and how it will feel once you’ve transformed your mindset.

Action: “I Am”
In the Action stage, you’re actively working on challenging your mindset. You have actively tried to make the change for six months or less. You’ve been consistently meeting your goals and seeing progress. However, the risk of relapse is still present, as old habits and doubts can creep back in during times of stress.
How to Move Forward:
- Create a Backup Plan: Set small goals and strategies for when the plan does not go as smoothly as anticipated. The biggest thing is to keep moving forward. Do not quit. You cannot achieve the desired change only if you quit.
- Build a Support System: Surround yourself with people who will be your support system and can motivate you to stay on track. Talk with friends, family, or an online therapist. Talking does help.
- Embrace the Process: Remember that mindset transformation is a marathon, not a sprint. Setbacks are part of the journey, but don’t define your progress. Although the process may become overwhelming, inner coherence can help you on your journey. Coherence will help keep you focused and keep stress levels to a minimum.
Maintenance: “I Still Am”
In the maintenance stage, you’ve successfully sustained your new mindset for over six months. You’re gaining confidence as the change continues, but it’s important to remain vigilant, as relapse is still possible under stress.
How to Move Forward:
- Develop Stress Management Techniques: Find ways to cope with stress effectively, ensuring it doesn’t derail your progress. Inner coherence techniques, such as yoga somatic therapy, can help bring down stress levels.
- Please focus on the Positives: Regularly remind yourself of the benefits of your mindset transformation and how it has positively impacted your life. You have successfully challenged your mindset and gone through the S.M.A.R.T principles as defined on the home page of unveilvictory.com
- Be a Role Model: Teaching others what you’ve learned reinforces your own growth and strengthens your commitment to change. You know you have mastered the techniques and the steps to change, or any other thing you are learning is when you can teach others.
Embrace the Journey of Transformation
Challenging your mindset and getting unstuck is a journey that requires patience, persistence, and self-compassion. By understanding the stages of change and applying these five decisive steps, you can create lasting personal growth and achieve the life you desire. Remember, each step forward or diagonal is going in the right direction, and every obstacle you overcome is an opportunity to learn and grow. I believe in you. Unveil your victory so you can live by your design.

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Disclosure: The content on my website is for informational purposes only, expressing my opinions of what I have experienced and what has worked for me. The information I write about is NOT designed to supplement or replace professional medical guidance, diagnosis, or treatment.
You should always research and seek advice from your family physician or a qualified healthcare professional for any queries about medical conditions you might have.