The 10 Steps to Change: A Comprehensive Guide to Lasting Transformation

Created by Heron Free, M.Ed., scientific researcher, former psychologist, and behavioural change expert.

I’ve developed the 10 Steps to Change model to help you make significant and lasting changes in your life. Many change models out there just aren’t comprehensive enough—they tell you to be disciplined or resilient, but they don’t give you the practical steps to get there. This model is based on Big Five personality testing, motivational speaking research, and my own personal and professional experiences. It’s designed to be a systematic approach that you can incorporate into your life right away.

Let’s dive into each step and explore how they can help you transform your life. Under each step, I’ve included bullet points that highlight key skills and experiences you’ll need to develop during that stage.

Step 1: Vision

One of the reasons we’re incorporating vision into the model is because without a clear idea of where you want to go, it’s going to be very difficult to get there. Think about it—if you don’t know your destination, how can you plan your journey? Having a vision gives you direction and purpose. It paints a vivid picture of your desired future, which can be incredibly motivating. When you know exactly what you want, making decisions and taking action becomes much easier.

Key Aspects:

• Goal Setting
• Clarifying Values
• Long-Term Planning

Step 2: Inspiration

Inspiration really gets you excited. You need to be inspired about your vision because inspiration creates that internal energy or excitement that’s going to get you moving. Without inspiration, your vision might just remain a distant dream. Inspiration fuels your motivation and keeps you enthusiastic about pursuing your goals, even when challenges arise.

Key Aspects:

• Finding Your “Why”
• Passion
• Motivation

Step 3: Mind Prep

The Mind Prep stage is really a time for you to relax, reflect, and remove the barriers in your mind that are preventing you from getting started. The reality is that in your mind, there are no barriers—you can go to Greece, work out, talk to anybody, or do anything. Mind Prep is about removing the self-imposed limitations. Often, the biggest obstacles are the ones we create ourselves. Negative thoughts, doubts, and fears can hold us back. By preparing your mind, you eliminate these barriers and open yourself up to possibilities.

Key Aspects:

• Mindfulness
• Self-Awareness
• Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

Step 4: Getting Started

Now that you’ve got enough energy to get moving, it’s much easier to get started. This step negates the problems with procrastination because you’re genuinely excited about creating the vision you have in your mind. Starting is often the hardest part due to fear of failure or feeling overwhelmed. But with a clear vision, inspiration, and a prepared mind, you’re ready to take that first step.

Key Aspects:

• Taking Action
• Overcoming Procrastination
• Building Momentum

Step 5: Focus and Flow

With the momentum building, you can enter a state of Focus and Flow. Base on the work of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. This is where you’re fully immersed in what you’re doing, and your productivity soars. Being in the flow means you’re completely engaged and enjoying the process. Focus allows you to concentrate on the task at hand without distractions, making your efforts more effective.

Key Aspects:

• Concentration
• Productivity
• Engagement

Step 6: Risk and Uncertainty

To create real change, you’re going to have to challenge yourself and take some risks. No change occurs without stepping into uncertainty because you’re moving beyond what you know. It’s natural to feel uneasy about the unknown, but taking risks is essential for growth. When you accept that uncertainty is part of the journey, you open yourself up to new opportunities.

Key Aspects:

• Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone
• Courage
• Embracing Change

Step 7: Resilience

When you take risks, you’re bound to face some challenges. Resilience is your ability to adapt and bounce back like a rubber ball. It’s about adjusting to new circumstances and continuing forward. Resilience keeps you moving when things get tough. It’s what allows you to recover from setbacks and stay committed to your vision.

Key Skills to Develop:

• Adaptation: Adjusting to new conditions and finding alternative paths.
• Flexibility: Being open to change and willing to alter your approach.
• Confrontation: Facing challenges head-on rather than avoiding them.

These are skills you’re going to need to develop during the resilience stage. They help you navigate obstacles and keep progressing toward your goals.

Step 8: Persistence

Persistence is different from resilience. While resilience is about bouncing back, persistence is about consistently moving forward. It’s the steady effort that propels you towards your goal. Lasting change doesn’t happen overnight. Persistence ensures that you keep making progress, even if it’s slow, until you reach your destination.

Key Aspects:

• Consistency
• Dedication
• Long-Term Commitment

Step 9: Relaxation

Relaxation is a very important part of this whole model because people don’t relax enough. When you relax, new ideas happen, and your perception changes. The ability to relax allows you to see things from a bigger perspective.

Key Aspects:

• Rest and Recovery
• Mindfulness
• Stress Reduction

 

Step 10: Trust

Finally, Trust is about allowing things to happen and taking time instead of pushing everything forward. It’s trusting that you don’t have to do everything yourself and that sometimes, things will fall into place on their own. Trust reduces anxiety and overexertion. It lets you step back and believe that your efforts will lead to the desired outcome, even if the path isn’t always clear. Maybe sometimes you just need to wait? And let the world catch up with you.

Key Aspects:

• Letting Go
• Faith in the Process
• Patience

 

Simplification (The 11th Step)

A key aspect of relaxation (the 10th step) is simplification. We always need to be looking at how to simplify and make things easier, whether that’s in your life, concepts, or business. Simplification allows you to focus on what’s truly important and eliminate unnecessary complexities. By simplifying, you make your goals more attainable and reduce the overwhelm that can come with big changes.

• Simplification: Streamlining tasks and focusing on essential elements.

While simplification could be considered the 11th step, it’s so integral to relaxation and the entire process that it fits naturally here.

Keep Smiling (The 12th Step)

When you’re working on something or relaxing, practice smiling. We often think something external has to happen for us to smile, but did you know that’s not necessary? You can smile as a practice and do it every day. If you’re relaxing, practice smiling. When you practice smiling, especially when you’re taking risks, it tricks the body into thinking you’re happy and safe. How about that for a free mood booster? It works best when you’re relaxed or celebrating your wins because, in that state, you can feel the smile more easily.

When you’re being serious or pushing through something challenging, not smiling may seem more appropriate, but start smiling afterward to reinforce that you did it and moved through the process. The act of smiling moves your facial muscles voluntarily, releases endorphins, and brings about a feeling of joy within yourself. Why so serious? You’re doing something fun, you’re creating the life you want. Smiling is an essential facial movement and a joy practice I want you to adopt. It’s easy, takes no time, and makes you feel good. Isn’t that what change is all about?

In other words, keep smiling—people may think you’re crazy, but who cares?