“Swish” is a powerful NLP technique used to change unwanted behaviours or thoughts and replace them with more desirable and constructive responses. The technique works with the unconscious mind and is particularly effective when tapping into your Generative Desired State (GDS) experience, which is the mental image of the desired outcome or behaviour.

To apply the “Swish” technique, you first need to identify the unwanted behaviour or negative thoughts you want to change. Then, create the desired image of yourself reacting positively and constructively in the same situation by utilising your GDS experience. Imagine how you would like to react in the future and reinforce this image in your mind.

The next step is to identify a trigger image that usually triggers the unwanted behaviour or thought. This trigger image will be your anchor for the “Swish” technique. When you’re ready, imagine the trigger image, but gradually dim it in volume, brightness and emotion. Make it black and white and indistinct so it loses its power.

Now, in a quick shift, “swish” or push the trigger image away by switching to your GDS image where you react positively. Watch your GDS image grow bigger, sharper and fill your mind, while the unwanted image becomes smaller, fainter and more indistinct until it disappears. For a powerful finish, explode the unwanted image into an imaginative image, for example, by blowing it up.

To strengthen the effect of the “Swish” technique, it is recommended to use at least five strong anchors in your previous GDS experiences that are strongly associated with positive emotions.

These strong anchors will reinforce and anchor the desired behaviour or thought even more in your unconscious mind.

Repeat the “Swish” technique several times with commitment and repetition to train your mind to respond in the desired way. By using your GDS experience and the strong anchors, you will experience a powerful transformation that can lead to positive changes and more desirable behavioural patterns in your life.

As with all NLP techniques, it can be beneficial to work with a qualified NLP practitioner or trainer for guidance and support during the process.

6.5.1.1 Swish as a cinema exercise
Swish is a powerful exercise that can remove curses and much more. It can be made stronger by using the question design below. We have removed fear of heights, fear of bridges, fear of exams, etc. using Swish.

1. Set the cinema scene: Imagine sitting comfortably in a cinema chair with the big screen in front of you. Notice the darkness around you as the lights dim and the cinema is completely silent.
2. Unwanted behaviour scene: On the cinema screen, you see a scene of yourself reacting to the unwanted behaviour or thought you want to change. Notice that the scene is not overly strong in lights, colours, sounds and emotions. It’s more of a diffuse and unclear representation of the unwanted behaviour.
3. Run the movie backwards: Now, instead of letting the scene of the unwanted behaviour fade away, let the movie run backwards. See yourself pulling away from the unwanted behaviour as if time is going backwards. The image becomes increasingly blurred and the sounds gradually fade as you move back in time to the point before the unwanted behaviour occurred.
4. Create the scene of the GDS experience: Keep running the movie backwards until you reach the point where you want to change the behaviour. Now change the cinema scene to show a scene of yourself reacting positively and constructively, the way you would like to react in the future. Imagine how you would feel, look and behave in this desired behavioural situation.
5. Enhance the GDS scene: Enhance the GDS scene by making the image bigger, sharper and more vivid as you continue to run the film backwards. Fill the cinema screen with the desired image of yourself reacting positively, while the unwanted image gets smaller, fainter and more indistinct until it disappears.
6. Explode the unwanted image: For a powerful ending, imagine the unwanted image exploding on the cinema screen, for example, by blowing it up or in some other imaginative way.
7. Repeat four more times: Repeat the entire process from running the film backwards to exploding the unwanted image four more times. Each time you repeat, the undesired behaviour is weakened even more and the desired behaviour is anchored more strongly in your mind.
8. Open your eyes: When you’re ready, slowly open your eyes, return to the real world and carry the feeling of the desired behaviour with you.

This cinema exercise uses the same “Swish” technique as previously described, but now with the necessary adaptation where the unwanted behaviour is not amplified in lights, colours, sounds and emotions, but is gradually weakened and disappears. This creates a more effective and balanced change in your mind as the unwanted behaviour is gradually replaced by the desired behaviour. As always, it can be beneficial to work with a qualified NLP practitioner or trainer for guidance and support during the process.