An effective NLP technique which can help abolish many bad or unwanted habits and behaviors, such as smoking, overeating, nail biting, and so forth is the “Swish” pattern. It works by changing your focus just when you are about to drop into the old habit unconsciously, putting a newly-introduced desirable habit into your conscious mind as a substitute. This interruption changes your focus and makes you consciously aware of what you are about to do.
Remember, whenever you desire to break a habit, it is very important to substitute a more desirable habit in its place. Trying to break a bad habit without substituting some desirable alternative in its place leaves a void, and the unconscious may try to fill the void by bringing back the old bad habit or another unwanted behavior in its place.
The Swish pattern has several different variations. Here are two simple ways of executing it:
Remember, whenever you desire to break a habit, it is very important to substitute a more desirable habit in its place. Trying to break a bad habit without substituting some desirable alternative in its place leaves a void, and the unconscious may try to fill the void by bringing back the old bad habit or another unwanted behavior in its place.
The Swish pattern has several different variations. Here are two simple ways of executing it:
Method One
1. Start out by visualizing yourself performing the habit or behavior you want to break. You may also want to include a specific trigger that may occur before you break into this bad habit in your mental image.
2. Now visualize yourself performing a substitute habit that is positive and productive--something that you can easily slip in as an alternative to the bad habit.
3. Keep the two images separated from one another--either side by side in your mind, or you can have one picture behind the other.
4. Envision the image of yourself engaged in the good (substitute) habit, and have this picture quickly fly into the image of you doing the unwanted habit.
5. See the unwanted image actually smash into and through the bad-habit image. Imagine the bad-habit image shattering into a thousand pieces like shards of glass.
6. It can actually be very effective to make a sound out loud, a “swoosh” or “swish” sound, each time you envision the two images colliding and crashing, and see the good-habit image now replace the bad-habit image.
7. It’s a good idea to repeat this process at least once a day, or more at first until the good habit begins to become ingrained and you are no longer unconsciously performing the bad habit, but are now always aware that you have a choice.
Method Two
Another, even simpler Swish variation for breaking bad habits, goes like this:
1. Start out visualizing yourself performing the habit or behavior you want to break. Again, you can add in the trigger that occurs just before you perform your unwanted habit. Then visualize yourself performing your substitute habit that is a good, productive replacement.
2. Now see yourself pushing the image of the bad habit away while you perform the replacement habit. Imagine an image of yourself in a very positive state. You imagine starting to perform the unwanted habit, see yourself stopping the behavior, and snap your fingers.
3. The last step is to visualize yourself in the positive state doing something that affirms you have broken the bad habit, such as performing your substitute habit instead.
Practice this a number of times until you automatically do this sequence before performing the old habit, and you should begin to find yourself choosing to perform the replacement habit now instead of the old habit, and feeling really good about yourself as you execute the new habit.
If you would like some help in running the Swish Pattern on yourself, let me know. I’d love to spend some time talking with you about the habit patterns that you are holding you back from being the very best version of you! A great way to get started is with a 45 minute FREE life transformation strategy session.
In this session we will:
Click here to schedule your complimentary session!
My new Facebook site is now up! Please visit. I’d appreciate your “Like!” and if you sign up for my e-list from Facebook, I’ll send you my latest time management suggestions.
Want to use this article on your website or your own Ezine?
Thanks for appreciating the value of this content. You’re welcome to reproduce this article, but you must reproduce it in its entirety and leave all the links active. Additionally, here is the short bio that you should include:
Dr. Steve Stutz, CTACC is a Life Success Coach, specializing in helping busy professionals and entrepreneurs not only survive but to thrive in life and business. To receive periodic personal development tips and success mindset articles, please join his e-list by visiting www.forwardpathcoaching.com
1. Start out by visualizing yourself performing the habit or behavior you want to break. You may also want to include a specific trigger that may occur before you break into this bad habit in your mental image.
2. Now visualize yourself performing a substitute habit that is positive and productive--something that you can easily slip in as an alternative to the bad habit.
3. Keep the two images separated from one another--either side by side in your mind, or you can have one picture behind the other.
4. Envision the image of yourself engaged in the good (substitute) habit, and have this picture quickly fly into the image of you doing the unwanted habit.
5. See the unwanted image actually smash into and through the bad-habit image. Imagine the bad-habit image shattering into a thousand pieces like shards of glass.
6. It can actually be very effective to make a sound out loud, a “swoosh” or “swish” sound, each time you envision the two images colliding and crashing, and see the good-habit image now replace the bad-habit image.
7. It’s a good idea to repeat this process at least once a day, or more at first until the good habit begins to become ingrained and you are no longer unconsciously performing the bad habit, but are now always aware that you have a choice.
Method Two
Another, even simpler Swish variation for breaking bad habits, goes like this:
1. Start out visualizing yourself performing the habit or behavior you want to break. Again, you can add in the trigger that occurs just before you perform your unwanted habit. Then visualize yourself performing your substitute habit that is a good, productive replacement.
2. Now see yourself pushing the image of the bad habit away while you perform the replacement habit. Imagine an image of yourself in a very positive state. You imagine starting to perform the unwanted habit, see yourself stopping the behavior, and snap your fingers.
3. The last step is to visualize yourself in the positive state doing something that affirms you have broken the bad habit, such as performing your substitute habit instead.
Practice this a number of times until you automatically do this sequence before performing the old habit, and you should begin to find yourself choosing to perform the replacement habit now instead of the old habit, and feeling really good about yourself as you execute the new habit.
If you would like some help in running the Swish Pattern on yourself, let me know. I’d love to spend some time talking with you about the habit patterns that you are holding you back from being the very best version of you! A great way to get started is with a 45 minute FREE life transformation strategy session.
In this session we will:
- Uncover hidden challenges that may be the cause of chaos, stress and discord in your life.
- Create a crystal clear vision for your “ultimate life” of tremendous success on your terms with ample quality time and energy for all your priorities.
- Leave the session renewed, re-energized, and inspired to transform your life and accomplish all of the things that are really important to you.
Click here to schedule your complimentary session!
My new Facebook site is now up! Please visit. I’d appreciate your “Like!” and if you sign up for my e-list from Facebook, I’ll send you my latest time management suggestions.
Want to use this article on your website or your own Ezine?
Thanks for appreciating the value of this content. You’re welcome to reproduce this article, but you must reproduce it in its entirety and leave all the links active. Additionally, here is the short bio that you should include:
Dr. Steve Stutz, CTACC is a Life Success Coach, specializing in helping busy professionals and entrepreneurs not only survive but to thrive in life and business. To receive periodic personal development tips and success mindset articles, please join his e-list by visiting www.forwardpathcoaching.com
Copyright: dirkercken / 123RF Stock Photo
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