Autosuggestion to End Habitual Picking
Remember the old Saturday Night Live character “Stuart Smalley”, played by Al Franken? Stuart’s shtick was his half-hearted, pathetic “self-affirmations”. When the idea of self-affirmation goes mainstream in comedy, you know that Autosuggestion as a concept has arrived.
Autosuggestion can be used to end compulsive, habitual finger picking in the same way as any other nagging, impulsive behavior.
The formula is simple:
- Find a quiet, comfortable place you can be alone in for at least 20 minutes
- Close your eyes and try to rid your mind of any feelings of fear and anxiety
- Visualize the tension and stress evaporating from your body
- Meditate — take deep breaths and consciously seek a peaceful place in your mind
- Make positive statements about your picking habit, such as:
- “My fingers are healthy and strong”
- “I have beautiful cuticles — I am not picking them now”
- “My fingernails are healing“
- “I am channeling my nervousness into productive things”
So put your best “finger” forward and give Autosuggestion a try.
Some more tips for success:
- Take it seriously — like most behavior modification techniques, Autosuggestion only works when you mean it. Remember, you’re not Jack Handey!
- Phrase Suggestions Positively — Look at the phrases above and you’ll see what I mean. Say “I will!”, not “I won’t”
- Use the Present Tense – If you say you’re doing it now — instead of later — you’re more likely to do it now!
- Suggest Realistic Action – Don’t shoot for the moon — try something simple like “I am happy with my fingers and skin tone”
- Repeat, Repeat, Reapeat — The more you auto-suggest something, the more it takes on a life of its own…
- Mean Everything you Say – Get your head (and your skin!) in the game — mean what you say and what you say will mean something!
- Excite the Imagination – Imagine a better place for your body and your mind, and you’ll get there!