This metaphor is similar to “I can’t walk”, demonstrating that you can choose to act contrary to what your mind is telling you.
All it takes is a quick game of “Simple Simon”: Demonstrate actions preceded by “Simple Simon says do this” and the client follows by doing the same action. When you, however, say “Do this”, the client does not follow suit.
I have used it successfully in training where of course it is a lot more fun, because participants who inadvertently do the action on the command “Do this” are out and the object of the game then would be to see who can outlast everyone else. What I like about this metaphor more than “I can’t walk” is that it so clearly demonstrates the urge to act on the command, yet the ability to ‘urge surf’ to borrow the term from Russ Harris.
Comments welcome, particularly if you have great ideas of how to make it more fun on a one-on-one basis!
Esthe Davis