A snappy, appealing way of remembering to do the right thing.

April 16, 2010 5:06 AM

I need a snappy, appealing acronym/mnemonic/alternative way of remembering the following 6 steps that I have found helpful in avoiding certain behaviours and replacing them with other preferred behaviors.

Here is the list of steps plus a little description of what they are:

1. Stop (Stop everything you are doing for a second - do nothing)
2. Acknowledge (Make mental note that you are about to do the 'wrong thing' whatever that may be.)
3. Breathe (In through nose out through mouth. As many time as is necessary to calm down/relax. Be present.)
4. Clear mind. (Now that calmness has been established take a second to recognise this and enjoy a clear/uncluttered mind)
5. Say 'I am going to [insert action]' (The action here is the 'right thing'/preferred behaviour. Optionally include a reason e.g. I am going to go for a walk, because it will help me sleep tonight.)
6. Start again slowly. (Doing the right thing and feeling great)

I know the words for some of the steps will need to change. Feel free to amend them in whatever way works but I would like to have the meaning retained as much as possible. While I have asked for acronyms or mnemonics I would be very open to any other ways you might suggest as long as they are easy to remember. If you feel there is a great solution to the challenge but it involves merging steps or including additional steps to accommodate this great solution, let me hear those too, but I am kind of attached to the original steps as they seem to work for me.

Just a bit of background, I am not trying to quit alcohol or criminal activity, just ordinary everyday stuff like eating the right food, staying focussed on work, nipping worry in the bud, not walking away from my unmade bed in the morning without fixing the duvet and fluffing the pillows etc.. I have been simplifying a lot of things in my life and identified the behaviors that lead to happiness. I am doing pretty well but would like a simple way of helping myself to do the right thing at the moments I am about to deviate. I do not expect to be able to do the 'right thing' always but I would like to do so as often as is possible.

p.s. I have put this in Human Relations because it relates to my relationship with myself and its anon because its pretty personal to me at least.

posted by anonymous to Human Relations (12 answers total)

S.T.R.O.N.G. seems to work:

Stop
Take ownership of your actions
Regulate your breathing
Out with mind clutter
Narrate your life with the right behavior
Go ahead
posted by Hiker at 5:23 AM on April 16, 2010 [4 favorites]

Trying to stick to your one:

Stop
Acknowledge
Breathe
Empty mind.
Right thing
Start again slowly
posted by Not Supplied at 5:29 AM on April 16, 2010 [5 favorites]

Doesn't exactly answer your question, but what about wearing a simple bracelet/necklace that has those letter beads for whatever acronym you choose? Sometimes a the presence of a physical reminder helps stamp ideas/behaviours into the mind more deeply.
(I like SABERS.)
posted by OlivesAndTurkishCoffee at 5:47 AM on April 16, 2010

This sounds similar to Pema Chodron's (quite effective) Four Rs (which I've posted about before in more depth but can't link to at the moment as I'm iPhone posting): Recognize (note what you're doing or are about to do), Refrain (pause -- stop yourself from "going there," even if for just a moment), Relax (take a deep breath, feel calm), and Resolve (promise yourself that you will start the cycle again the next time something comes up -- which it will, over and over. But that's okay. Just recognize, refrain, relax, and resolve.)
posted by mothershock at 5:51 AM on April 16, 2010 [4 favorites]

Say "ABCs" Slowly.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 6:53 AM on April 16, 2010

1&2: Stop what you're doing.
3&4: Drop your thoughts and heartrate.
5&6: Roll on with the right thing.
posted by fleacircus at 6:55 AM on April 16, 2010 [6 favorites]

If you're willing to say it with a bit of a drawl..

So 'all Be-come Super Successful

or

Success at Being, Calm so Seeming
posted by valoius at 7:50 AM on April 16, 2010

You already have part of the ABC's, so maybe just continue them:

1. Stop
2. Acknowledge
3. Breathe
4. Clear mind.
5. Declare
6. for Start again slowly - words I have come up with:
Embark
Energize
Engage (think Captain Picard)
Emerge

I would just leave the STOP at the top. STOP and do ABCDE.
posted by CathyG at 8:05 AM on April 16, 2010

What you're really trying to do is CHANGE:

Cut it out!
Here comes that bad behavior again...
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh
Nothing in my mind
Get back on track
Everything's going to be fine
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 8:10 AM on April 16, 2010

All right, Stop (uh, stop), corroborate (give evidence for) and Listen (to yourself breath), Ice (cool, clear mind) is back
(you are starting over, doing the right thing) with a brand new invention (the brand new, better you)
posted by dirtdirt at 8:51 AM on April 16, 2010 [6 favorites]

STOP!
A [acknowledge]
B [breathe]
C [clear mind]
D [declare]
START!
posted by Jaltcoh at 8:54 AM on April 16, 2010 [4 favorites]

dirtdirt: LOL
posted by Jaltcoh at 8:57 AM on April 16, 2010