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Every year, millions of people in the U.S. promise they’ll make a change to better their lives. Goals include improving relationships, reducing stress, stopping worry, saving money, landing a better job, and getting healthier. Often these changes are attempted while dealing with a busy schedule. Many people do succeed. However, the majority give up trying.
According to author Pat LaDouceur, Ph.D., the secret to success is not to think big, but rather to think small. In her newly released book, “Small Change, Big Results” (Twin Rocks Press, 196 pp., available in both softcover and eBook), the psychotherapist and coach shows how breaking a large goal into small, doable steps can help people cross the finish line.
The powerful strategies offered in “Small Change, Big Results” were gleaned from what has worked for thousands of LaDouceur’s therapy clients over more than a quarter century. LaDouceur focuses on tackling big problems with small steps. Common issues are how to relieve stress, how to stop worrying, how to stop anxiety, stress management, building relationships, and goal setting. There is also advice for tackling change in personal relationships, at the workplace, and how to change habits.
For more information on the book, “Small Change, Big Results,” click here: http://www.ladouceurmft.com/book/
When asked about her motivation for writing the book, LaDouceur explains, “Making a lifestyle change or getting through a crisis can often feel daunting, because it feels like such a big task. But it’s most often small shifts in how you approach something that make the difference. It’s like navigating a ship — a two-degree course correction can make the difference between landing in Miami or New York City. This book helps people identify and make small shifts to help them work, love, and parent with more joy and more ease.”
In the book, “Small Change, Big Results,” the author has distilled her approach into a seven robust steps:
Step 1. Pause: The first step is about taking time to renew energy, sharpen focus, and reflect on energy and time management. A purposeful pause is an antidote to being “crazy busy,” and it can make change possible.
Step 2. Imagine: The second step is about creating a clear, mental picture of what is desired. This makes positive results much more likely.
Step 3. Plan: In this step, imagined goals are turned into real, actionable ones. It’s about turning an inspiration into strategies and action steps.
Step 4. Shrink: This step involves shrinking actions until they’re truly doable and therefore more likely to be successful. This process helps to create forward movement immediately.
Step 5. Act: Next, actions are turned into habits. This happens through creating routines and building a supportive environment.
Step 6. Flow: This step is about learning to get past the obstacles that will inevitably come up.
Step 7. Celebrate: The final step encourages small celebrations for victories along the way to a major goal. This often-neglected step is one of the keys to successful long-term change.
Dr. LaDouceur explains what works and what doesn’t work with respect to change. The book addresses major reasons people don’t succeed. These reasons are most often related to people’s approach to change. “People often attribute failure to external events,” she observes. “And to be sure, difficult external events can happen. But if your story stops there, you’re helpless. The only way you can change a situation is by finding some kind of a lever for yourself—something that allows you to see a step you can take. And the smallness of it is key.”
LaDouceur backs up her practical advice with scientific studies. Two topics she looks at in eye-opening ways are habits and willpower. For instance, the reader learns how much people rely on habits every day, and how the pull of old, habitual behaviors can make it hard to do things differently. LaDouceur warns that willpower isn’t a reliable way to make change happen, partly because it gets depleted as the day goes on. Cutting-edge strategies are offered to deal with these issues.
Many success stories are presented in the book, each based on LaDouceur’s experience with her own clients. These stories illustrate how big change really happens. For instance, Corey was a software developer who found talking with people difficult, but he wanted to develop the skills he needed to be more of a leader. He started with the small step of noticing how many interactions he had with other people each day. From there, he set a target number of daily interactions. Over time, he expanded the duration and quality of his participation with people at the job and off. A year later, he got a promotion.
Personal relationship success stories are also found in the book. Sandra longed for the closeness she’d experienced with her husband Jay when they were first together. She was also tired of their constant bickering. Small steps like inviting her husband on short walks, and responding differently to him in each conversation, set a foundation for remarkable change for this couple. There are many more success stories throughout the book.
To learn more about the book, “Small Change, Big Results,” or to find out more about author Pat LaDouceur, Ph.D. and her counseling and coaching practice in Berkeley, please visit: www.ladouceurmft.com
Release ID: 80033