This article is intended for people who already have some understanding of the ZRM self-management. At the start of the ZRM process, you choose one or more images and then create your personal motto goal in line with your goal. By doing so, you align both your conscious and subconscious minds with your needs in mind, and you thus cross the Rubicon. In many cases, this isn’t enough to put the attitude represented by your motto goal into practice in daily life. This is when ZRM tools come into play – first and foremost, reminders.

Strengthening the neural circuit of your motto goal

In your brain, your image and your motto goal form a new neural circuit that needs to be strengthened in order to have a lasting impact on your thoughts, feelings, and actions. In order to strengthen these neural connections, you need to use them as often as possible successfully.

Learning a new behavior usually means practicing and repeating it over and over again until it becomes automatic. This is tedious, and you’re likely to give up after a while. ZRM self-management offers an approach that bypasses your unreliable conscious mind and takes advantage of how your subconscious works. This works because the brain cannot distinguish whether a stimulus is perceived consciously or unconsciously. The ZRM uses the “priming” effect of sensory stimuli that are not necessarily consciously perceived, but nevertheless have a measurable effect on you and your behavior.

Activating the mindset of your motto goal

Reminders are used to activate the new neural circuit associated with your motto goal. By “reminder,” we primarily mean objects – that is, visual stimuli. However, it is advisable to choose auditory, olfactory, and tactile stimuli related to the motto goal as well, in order to engage as many senses as possible.

To achieve the desired effect, reminders must:

• be related to your chosen image and your motto goal
• and have a strong positive emotional impact, with no negative emotions associated.

Finding your reminders

Start by writing down all the items that come to mind when you look at your image and your motto goal. Also, ask other people – who don’t necessarily need to know about your goal – for their ideas. For example, you could tell them you’re looking for a gift for a friend who has certain preferences.

Here is a list of reminders to get some ideas:

• Objects: pictures, cards, symbols, clothing, wallpaper, watches, jewelry, plants, items in a color that reflects your picture, keychains, bedding, towels, stickers, magnets
• Word/pictures: passwords, words/phrases on a card, drawings on a T-shirt
• Sounds: phone sounds (calls, alarm, notifications), music clips, background music
• Smells: perfume, room freshener

Reminders don't need to be expensive. You can choose inexpensive items or even a few hand-drawn pictures to hang around your home. If you have to replace everyday items, just make sure they relate to your motto goal. For example, choose your next toothbrush in a color that matches your motto goal. Be creative, and you'll surely find many items you like.

Placing your reminders wisely

For maximum impact, make sure to place reminders everywhere you spend time during the day. What might remind you of your motto goal when you wake up in the morning? Next, think about other rooms in your home, such as the bathroom and kitchen. You can also place reminders outside the home, for example in your car and at your workplace.

Don’t put your reminders in a closet, but rather place them where you can see them all the time. If there are certain places where you’re likely to encounter particularly difficult situations, put as many reminders as possible there.

This approach offers a very attractive ratio of effort to benefit. You only need to acquire the necessary items and place them in the right spots. That’s all the effort required. After that, the reminders automatically activate the neural circuit associated with your motto goal. Thanks to the priming effect, no conscious attention on your part is necessary.

Carrying your reminders with you

You aren't always in places where you can set up your reminders around you. That's why it's essential to keep some with you as well. By doing so, you can activate your motto goal even when you're travelling or in places you can't arrange to your liking.

In these cases, we're talking about portable reminders. Here are some examples:

• Clothing: clothing (from socks to hats), watches, jewelry, bracelets, shoes
• Electronic devices: phone wallpaper and sounds, a sticker on the device, music (with headphones or in the car), phone case or cover
• Accessories: keychain, figurine for your pocket or bag, pen, cigarette case, perfume bottle

Get at least

• 5 stationary objects
• 5 portable objects

If your goal is ambitious, you’ll certainly need more than ten reminders. Rest assured: the more you have, the better – especially at the very beginning, when the neural circuit has just been formed, because it’s still weak and needs as much stimulation as possible.

By surrounding yourself with reminders throughout the day, you ensure that the neural circuit for your motto goal is activated unconsciously all the time, develops and becomes stronger. After a while, you’ll be able to activate your motto goal more and more effectively, right when you need it.

Avoiding objects you already own

For your brain to recognize that an object is associated with your motto goal and activate the desired neural circuit, it is essential that you acquire new objects. Objects you already own activate existing neural circuits linked to other themes, but not to your motto goal.

However, if you already own an item that perfectly matches your motto goal, you may still use it. But it’s crucial to change at least one detail so that your brain perceives it as something new. Here are a few examples:

• a new pot for a plant
• a small embroidery design on a T-shirt
• a new frame for an old photo
• a colored dot on a vacation souvenir

Taking other people's reactions into account

Your reminders are very personal and don't need to be justified to anyone. However, in some cases, it makes sense to consider how those around you might react, since reminders can be categorized by visibility:

• private (hidden from others)
• public (visible to everyone)

When it comes to private reminders – such as in your bedroom – you can choose whatever you like. But if a reminder is public, you might wonder if you’re inviting too much negative feedback from those around you. You probably wouldn’t wear a multicolored floral jacket at the office where conservative attire is expected. On the other hand, you can wear floral-patterned underwear that no one will see. ;-)

Removing distracting objects

You may have objects around you that distract you from your motto goal. If you’re a student, for example, while studying for an exam, photos of the beach where you spent your vacation might have an undesired effect. It’s best to put them away in a drawer and only take them out after the exam. If you’re looking to relax, you’d be better to put away that very nice mug from your former employer, whom you left due to a conflict. So identify the objects that could distract you from your motto goal and put them out of sight.

Using certain reminders intentionally

So far, we’ve discussed reminders that have an unconscious impact and leverage the priming effect. But you can also use reminders in a completely intentional way. This is very helpful in challenging situations where you really need their support. So you prepare in advance and make sure to have as many reminders as possible around you. When the time comes, you look at them and touch them consciously to put yourself in the attitude of your motto goal.

Scientifically proven effectiveness

The impact of reminders may seem magical, because you don’t necessarily have to be aware of them. Your brain processes them nonetheless. This is the remarkable power of this tool. Reminders leverage the priming effect, which has been proven by thousands of scientific studies.

Talismans are a different story, as they are considered objects imbued with a special energy. In contrast, there is no occult energy inherent in your reminders. If you lose or break one, simply replace it. You just need to consciously make the connection between the object and the motto goal once.

Key points to remember

Please bear in mind the following:

• Your reminders must be directly related to your motto goal and appeal to you (triggering a purely positive affect balance).
• Their availability must be under your control.
• Get at least five stationary reminders and five portable ones.
• Do not use old objects unless you have modified them.
• The more difficult a situation is for you to handle, the more you should surround yourself with reminders at that specific moment.

How long should you surround yourself with reminders? In general, until your motto goal becomes so deeply ingrained that you act according to it naturally in your daily life – which usually takes about six months. If, after that time, you still like some of these items, you can continue to keep them around, of course.

One last tip: Once you’ve created your motto goals, start surrounding yourself with reminders right away.

Reminders – a wonderful tool of the ZRM^®

Reminders are a fantastic tool that I use frequently in my personal life and that I regularly suggest to people I coach.

Reminders help you strengthen the neural circuit associated with your motto goal, almost effortlessly. They are a tool for internalizing the attitude expressed by your motto goal as quickly as possible and acting in accordance with it. For the most challenging situations, you can prepare in advance and make sure you have as many reminders as possible around you when you need them.

It’s important to surround yourself with reminders as often as possible. It’s like the secret to playing a large gong. To produce a deep, rich sound, you first need to get the gong vibrating gently with light taps before striking it hard. If the neural circuit associated with your motto goal is constantly activated, you’re most likely to be in the right attitude when you need it.

Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to psychologists Maja Storch and Frank Krause at the University of Zurich, who developed this wonderful tool to help us achieve our goals more easily.

Sources: This article is based on the author’s personal experiences and the primary literature on ZRM^® in German, which has not yet been translated:

• STORCH, Maja, KRAUSE, Frank et WEBER, Julia, 2022. Selbstmanagement – ressourcenorientiert: Theoretische Grundlagen und Trainingsmanual für die Arbeit mit dem Zürcher Ressourcen Modell (ZRM®). 7. überarbeitete Auflage. Bern : Hogrefe. ISBN 978-3-456-86214-9.
• MEIER, René, WEBER, Julia, EISENBART, Urs, FAUDE-KOIVISTO, Tanya et DIEDRICHS, Annette, 2021. Ressourcenorientiertes Einzelcoaching nach ZRM®: theoretische Grundlagen und Coachingmanual für die Arbeit mit dem Zürcher Ressourcen Modell ZRM®. 1. Auflage. Bern : Hogrefe. ISBN 978-3-456-86060-2.
  
  

This article was first published in French in February 2024 and has now been translated into English by the author himself.

Author of the article: Beát Edelmann, expert in neurodiversity (autism, ADHD and high IQ) and personality exploration. He is the founder of the Abundana Institute for Self-Management in Geneva, which offers coaching, training, and consulting services in French, English, and German.

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