We all have moments when we realize that we need to make a change. Maybe it’s something we’ve been thinking about for a long while or a recent realization. Either way, it’s normal to feel ambivalent. Ambivalence is when you have acknowledged that a particular behavior is problematic for you, wish you could change it, but feel uncertain about how. In ambivalence, you are being pulled in two opposite directions — your desire to change and your fear of changing.

Exploring these opposing feelings is a good step toward action. The exercise below is called a Decisional Balance. In it, you list the pros and cons of both changing and not changing. This helps to flush out where you may be stuck.

Questions to Ask Yourself:

• "Am I willing to make this behavioral change a top priority?" Yes ❑ No ❑
• "Have I tried to change this behavior before?" Yes ❑ No ❑
• "Am I committed to making this change, even though it may prove challenging?" Yes ❑ No ❑
• "Do I have support for making this change from friends, family, and loved ones?" Yes ❑ No ❑
• "Am I prepared to be patient with myself if I encounter obstacles, barriers, or setbacks?" Yes ❑ No ❑
• "On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 high), how motivated am I to make a change?"