- 1). Recognize that swearing is a habit that you formed, and as such, you can unlearn it, too. Make a conscious decision that not swearing is important to you.
- 2). Pay attention to your triggers. Notice how you're feeling when you begin to swear. Are you angry? Trying to fit in? Expressing frustration? Noticing when and why you swear will help you make a different choice when the urge arises.
- 3). Decide you'll replace swear words with words that have similar length and syllables but are non-offensive. For example, say "sugar" or "fudge" when you are about to use a profanity.
- 4). Institute a penalty that benefits the greater good. For example, every time you curse, donate $1 to your charity of choice, or put $1 toward buying lunch for your entire office.
- 5). Think about how your parents, spouse, bosses or children would feel about your dirty language. Picture them at your side at all times and monitor your speech accordingly. If the people in your life don't mind your language, imagine your higher power is at your side at all times. If that doesn't work, imagine that you're inside a church or spiritual center each time you speak. Pretend you have to monitor your language to show respect.
- 6). Think about how people around you are feeling. Even if they aren't visibly annoyed, the people you talk to might not like your swearing. If they don't mind, imagine how people overhearing your conversation might feel. Keep in mind that if you're swearing in public, mothers, grandmothers, children and ministers might be in hearing distance.
- 7). Come up with alternatives for the emotions you're trying to express by reading a thesaurus. Expand your vocabulary so you can communicate your feelings in an intelligent, non-offensive manner.
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