{"id":17783,"date":"2025-11-11T14:55:55","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T19:55:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/cfar\/2017\/07\/mi-questions-speaking-ones-own-motivation-for-change\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T09:16:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T14:16:10","slug":"speaking-ones-own-motivation-for-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/cfar\/2025\/11\/speaking-ones-own-motivation-for-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Speaking One\u2019s Own Motivation for Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

There may be many thoughts that come to mind when we think about the importance of speaking one\u2019s own motivation for change; perhaps words such as ownership, commitment, accountability, and support come up for us. And our actual role as practitioners is to try to guide or facilitate the client in talking themselves into the change they want in their lives\u2026since people are usually more committed to, and believe, what they themselves say versus what someone else says (like a practitioner).<\/p>\n

We know that the process of behavior change in Motivational Interviewing is not unique and typically does not result from a single \u201cinsight\u201d or \u201caha\u201d moment. Change usually occurs after a period of ambivalence and when the perceived advantages begin to outweigh the perceived disadvantages. And most often, it is a gradual process of going back and forth until the natural process of ambivalence is resolved. Our role then is about moving the client forward and supporting them through this process.<\/p>\n

And when I read the question from the blog subscriber, about the importance of speaking one\u2019s own motivations, out loud, and in front of another person, it reminded me of how Miller and Rollnick offer this example of the subjective differences there are likely to be in making statements like \u201cI am going running today\u201d or \u201cI forgive my father\u201d if one is:<\/p>\n