While looking for ways to quit smoking, you must first understand that using the nicotine patch, chewing Nicorette, and/or snorting anti-depressants, will probably end with the undesired result; embarrassing failures. Until you look deeply into why addiction is usually the victor, you’ll probably relapse repeatedly.
Why Quitting is a Bitch?
Tobacco, in the form of Cigarettes, is the most difficult drug to kick because of how many layers there are to the addiction. First and foremost, the behavioral element to smoking is far greater than the chemical dependence to nicotine. Humans are no better than Pavlov’s dogs when it comes to conditioning, and, on top of this susceptibility, we are creatures of habit. Examples of behavioral conditioning are: smoking with alcohol or coffee, smoking on breaks, smoking after sex, and the compulsion to smoke in a social environment. Personally, wanting to partake in the smoker subculture was the most difficult part for me.
The chemical dependency is also very difficult to break, because you experience physical pain, mood swings, and depression. It’s said that the third day, third week, and third month, are the most likely times to relapse. God knows why? It’s common that for the first couple of weeks, a person will cough more after quitting as the lungs cleanse themselves. Many people fail to realize that the lungs are the most rejuvenacent organ in the body, and will work hard to cleanse themselves once free from the bombardment of smoke and tar. Depending on your addiction, it’s also normal to experience shakes, emotional outbursts, and intense cravings during the first few weeks. You must tell everyone around you to support you, and be patient with you during this process. People will understand and, hopefully, not take your chemical-withdraw symptoms personally.
Another difficult layer of the addiction to overcome is your programming. The constant repetition involved in smoking hard-wires your brain, which is why your desire to smoke, and amount of daily cigarette intake, usually increase over time. This is also why the longer you smoke, the harder it is to quit.
When trying to quit smoking your triple screwed, because you’re dealing attempting to undo behavioral conditioning, chemical dependency, and biological programming.
So What’s the Secret to Quit Smoking?
Failure to conquer an addiction to cigarettes is the result of a lack of real intention to quit. Many people will respond defensively, “What the heck do you mean I don’t have real intention, I have every desire to quit smoking?” The answer is simple: If you place external conditions on quitting, then you’re setting yourself up for failure.
External conditions people think they need to quit smoking include:
- Quitting by some future date such as a New Year’s Resolution, or after the weekend
- An expensive 12-step program, nicotine gum, vitamins, the patch, anti-depressants up the nose
- Deciding to wait until life is less stressful
- Quitting after the last bit of cigarettes are gone
Having the desire to quit is only the starting point, not the means.
The truth is, putting conditions on ending an addiction is telling the unconscious mind that you are not ready, or willing, to free yourself from smoking. Real intention is being present in telling all levels of your being that your will is infinitely more powerful than your program. Saying you want to quit without this real intention, is expressing your desire without invoking your all-powerful Will. Your desires are simple thoughts and feelings that pass, which cannot manifest without will.
Bottom line: Desire isn’t good enough; real intention is all it takes to quit smoking.
How To Use Real Intention to End Your Cigarette Addiction
There’s no exact formula, but the Truth exists in all instances where people successfully quit. It is Will that has kept people alive in impossible circumstances, and has changed the world as we know it. Real intention is focusing will to achieve desired results. Here is the practical application of intention to quit smoking that you can use everyday:
Daily Affirmations to Quit Smoking
Daily ‘I am’ affirmations will reprogram your brain, breaking the hard-wire connections that are responsible for the addiction. Example of these affirmations include: I am healthy; I am strong; I am powerful; I am not a smoker; I am not addicted. ‘I will’ works great as well: I will not smoke; I will not fail; I will be successful; I will myself to heal. The more you repeat these positive affirmations, the more physical benefit. Behavioral conditioning and biological programming that is responsible for our addictions, can likewise be used to defeat them.
Being Truly Ready to Quit
If you’re truly ready to stop smoking, there’s no better time than now. Having presence of mind in deciding you’re finished, is an exercise in real intention. Ending bad behaviors without reliance on external conditions tells your unconscious that you’re truly ready. Whether you have 3 smokes left, it’s Friday the 13th, or there are 3 days before the New Year, putting down the pack and realizing the power of now, is a huge factor in successfully quitting. Being present is the key to happiness and success, and it is definitely a key element to creating the strength you’ll need to get yourself through this difficult process.
Positive Behavior Modification
Replace the habits of smoking with other positive actions. Down a bottle of water, write openly about what you’re going through, go for a walk or run, and take supplements that make you feel good.
The Electronic Vapor Stick, or Fake Cigarette, has helped a lot of people in the short term, but often end in relapse. I would suggest bringing something like this into a social environment where your smoking program will fire. However, using this as a cigarette replacement will end in failure. After you’ve taken the plunge to quit, you must do your best to avoid behaviors went along with your smoking habit, such as: coffee, alcohol, and hanging out with your friends that smoke. Sounds difficult, but your Will will eventually be strong enough to maintain in these vulnerable environments; in the beginning stages, try to prevent yourself from tempting circumstances. After healing is complete, even the worst alcoholics can find themselves around bews without the desire to indulge.
Don’t Even Take A Puff
If you think you can handle a puff, or cheat once in a while, you’re wrong. You will go back to smoking if you touch another cigarette. Ask your friends to respect what you’re going through by not offering you a hit, or even smoking in your presence.
Breaking the Chemical Nicotine Dependency
Many doctors believe that easing your chemical dependency is the best way. As long as you are not leaning on things like nicotine gum, and the patch, these substances may ease the pain of chemical-withdraw. Accompanied with everything I’ve previously mentioned, a slow chemical detoxification can’t hurt. However, these things aren’t necessary and will not help you with the compulsion to lift a cigarette to your mouth.
Time will heal you and cure your dependency.
Accepting Support is Key
Many of us have a huge a barrier that we are not conformable to allow people to penetrate. Vulnerability is the most terrifying thing people spend their lives trying to avoid.
We wear a mask for so long that we forget what’s underneath it.
You must allow people to support you without your pride getting in the way. Most people feel that loving someone is the act of doing something for them, however this isn’t true. Loving someone is being vulnerable enough to allow someone in. With support and love, strength will come when you feel you have nothing left.
In conclusion, you cannot call upon your external reality to achieve your goals. You must look within. Take responsibility, and believe in your Will to Power. With real intention, you will successfully quit smoking, which will pave the way for huge growth, health, and happiness.
Goldstein, reporting from the non-smoking section
