The Swing Method lets
you redo a deep-rooted answer by building in a new reply to the same action. It
rewires the mind to answer in a brand new way to a
circumstance that before caused in negative thoughts, actions and feelings. It is
a foolproof method to change any bad habits like nail-biting or smoking to
changing views on situations like anxiousness and worry (e.g from dislike to
ease or enjoyment) and changing actions like screaming at your loved ones,
workplace behavior or not standing up for yourself, or spontaneously replaying thoughts
and situations that make your anxious and worried.
Let’s try it:
Stage 1: Recognize your
area of change e.g. stop biting your nails.
Stage 2: Isolate the Hint
Picture. What do you do before the unwanted action of biting your nails? Our
actions are always subconscious and hence it will help to actually do whatever
you do just before you start the unwanted action e.g. move your hand towards
your mouth just as you would if you were about to bite your nails. What do you
see/hear/feel?
Stage 3: Build a Preferred
Result picture. What would be the benefits if you had already made the change
that you wish? Not just longer fingernails – Would it be worthwhile? What would
be the result of this change on your life? Will it boost your self-confidence?
How would that all look like? Build a picture of that Fresh You, YOU that you
would be minus the bad habit or action or feeling. Look at yourself as though
you are in a movie and change the image until you come up with the best.
Increase the brightness, change the size and color of the image and add in positive
Abilities like self-confidence, boldness, peace and sympathy etc. until you
find it completely fascinating.
Stage 4: Swing the two
pictures. Begin with looking at the big and bright hint picture. Then put a
small, dim image of your Preferred Result in the lower right corner. Now as you
swing in your mind let the Hint Picture wipe off slowly and at the same time
the Preferred Result Picture grow big and bright until it completely covers the
Hint Picture and fills the curtain of your mind. This has to be done in the
blink of an eye that is in less than a second or the time it take to say SWING.
Slowly open your eyes. Repeat this method 5 times.
Stage 5: Test. Now try
and picture the Hint Picture This should be hard to do as it will tend to be
replaced by your Preferred Result picture. On the other hand, try to prompt the
action e.g. lift your hand as though to bite your nails. If the old outcome
still shows up, go back and swing again after adding some more appealing
elements to your image to make it absolutely stunning. The Hint Picture should
feel unfriendly since this is a action you wish to change and the Preferred Result
should make you feel good. The keys to a successful SWING are speed and properly
identifying the start or Hint Picture. Swing in Joy, Happiness and Peace!
