Maybe you could try "acting as though" you don't need the attention in little situations. Say you are a meeting and you have the urge to jump in with your opinion or answer to a question. Clamp your teeth shut for thirty seconds and decide to allow someone else to answer. (You can use your desire to help others to your advantage here by considering that they may benefit from the opportunity to answer a question or two.)
If you stop yourself from acting upon the desire for attention a few (or more than a few) times, you might start to feel more comfortable allowing the attention to be on someone else. You might also learn something new by placing yourself in the position of the (listening) student rather than that of the (speaking) teacher.
One other thing. I don't think it serves you one bit to label yourself as "flawed" or your habit as "disgusting". It places negative energy upon those things that you wish to change, and therefore draws those things closer. Focus instead on how you would like to be, and I believe you will have better results.
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