Exerting Self-Control: the 'Replacement Trick'
Posted: Thursday, May 08, 2008
by Sulagna Dasgupta
Love in India
Let me tell you this before I forget! As usual, it's a simple new trick to help you lead a better life. I just discovered I've been doing it since ages without ever consciously realizing it!
Once again, we're back to the topic of self-control.
There must have been times when you've tried to stop doing something, but have been simply unable to do so. For example, you might have wanted to stop eating those delicious pastries (and getting a lot of extra pounds free), to give up smoking, to stop visiting those sites you know you shouldn't visit 
etc. Chances are you've found it difficult at best, and just impossible at worst to actually do it-assuming you're not one of those VERY lucky people who are gifted with exceptional willpower.
What do you do in such cases? I've mentioned the ‘5-minute-strategy' in my other articles. According to this, you tell yourself not to do it for only the next 5 minutes, and after those 5 minutes, you either forget about it (this happens in 90% of the cases), or again vow to keep yourself from doing it for another meager 5 minutes. This process continues till you get over the urge to do it altogether. (Believe me-this will happen by three such 5-minute periods at the MOST.)
Now what's new is even more good news-a prize for exerting that bit of self-control. This is called the ‘Two-in-one trick of replacement'. Let me put it this way. Suppose you want to get past that piece of chocolate cake on the table. Naturally you've applied the 5-minute strategy. Now what do you do during those 5 minutes? You do something else which is very interesting to you and which will make you forget about your urge even faster. Let's say, in this case-why don't you sit down to watch the television? 
.
I'm sure by now you've understood how it works. You see, when you start watching the TV (I'm assuming this is one of your favorite activities. If it isn't, you can replace this with anything which is.), your attention gets hogged completely by whatever you're seeing. (Watching TV is a particularly absorbing activity.) So your mind doesn't get the chance to wander off to that piece of cake again!
Sounds like fun, doesn't it? You're having fun while doing something very important, i.e. getting rid of a nasty habit! Well, why else did you think the trick is called ‘two-in-one'?
You are absolutely right! Whenever I address the youth on habits, I always suggest them not to avoiding your habit but replace with a better habit. If you a try to avoid you will do it again and again.Are you a counselor? Whats your profession? I viewed your website too. Quite interesting one. Keep it up...Thanks a lot Candles, I'm glad you too feel the same way about this.
I'm not a counsellor by profession. But I take a lot of interest in self-help and self-improvement.
I deeply beleive in some self-improvement principles which I've also applied in my life and have seen that they really work.
That's why I wanted to share some of these principles and my own self-help experience with people. That's the reason for setting up my site. Thanks a lot for visiting it and I'm glad that you liked it.:)
