This character-building approach to no more smoking works best for the person who values self integrity and is in a loving relationship.
The first step is to set the deadline, then have at least a week to get psyched up for pitching that last pack of cigarettes.
Method Appeals to Love and Veracity
This method of putting cigarettes permanently behind relates to how much love there is for another person and if self pride requires being truthful and keeping promises. In one sense, it’s not about cigarettes at all. It’s about character.
Here is how it works. The end to smoking is tied to a gift for a loved one. In other words, Jane quits smoking as a birthday gift to John.
The First Clincher
A person of character would never give a loved one a gift and then be such a heel as to take it back. Right? If the answer is “yes”, that’s the first step to making it work.
This is something to feel good about for two reasons. First: It is rewarding to make a sacrifice for a loved one. Second: There is a real reason to feel good about not smoking and it isn’t directly tied to cigarettes. There is something very special about that.
The Next Clincher
This time it’s not a trial around whether giving up cigarettes will work. To rationalize why it may be okay to have just one cigarette would be to be untrue to self, untrue to the loved one and, of course, taking back a gift is selfish! To stop smoking was a lifetime promise. It is something to feel good about.
Under this method, as each week goes by the reformed smoker feels even better about self, becomes proud of discovering such a special way to show love to the loved one, and gets reinforcement every time the success is described to another person.
Extra Help in the Beginning
There are several things that can be done to help with getting past that difficult first week or two. Here are three suggestions:
The day before you quit try to make yourself sick on cigarettes. Smoke four packs. Dip a partially smoked butt in water and try to get a drag out of it. Yuk!
Cut down on liquids you drink from a glass, substituting liquid from watermelon or other juicy fruits.
Cut a straw into cigarette length sections. Pretend to smoke it. Part of the pleasure people get from smoking comes from the extra rush of air into their system. This process causes a bit of a high and smoking the straw does the same.
Long Term Rewards
In addition to breaking the smoking habit, the person who uses this method proves that he can be true to self and keep his word even when strongly tested. He has truly impressed the loved one, as well as friends, neighbors and co-workers. This is the kind of high worth smiling about.
The copyright of the article How to Stop Smoking in Health Field is owned by Rosemary E. Bachelor. Permission to republish How to Stop Smoking in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
TO ALL SMOKERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO QUIT SMOKING, IGNORE THIS ADVICE!!!!
This seems really dumb to me. Like any addiction, you have to do it
for yourself, first and foremost.
Smoke 4 packs to prove to
yourself how gross it is? That will last until you get your first craving.
Also, you can't guilt yourself into quitting an addiction. This is complete
nonsense. Please take this page down because you are doing a disservice to
anyone that actually wants to quit smoking.
Try using reason. I
would suggest Allen Carr's book "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking".
It worked for me and MILLIONS of others.
Sorry if this comes
off as insulting but, I can't stand people giving stupid advice about
something which they probably (judging by this article, I can't believe
this person was ever addicted to cigarettes) have no experience with.
I'm sure this was created to generate hits to the site because it
wasn't made to help people quit smoking.
And to whoever
moderates this post, don't delete it if you really want to help people.
Jan 2, 2009 12:59 PM
Guest :
The author of this article specifically states that her method works best
for persons who place a high value on integrity and have strong support
from loved ones. The author does NOT claim that it will work for everyone.
Certainly it goes without saying that a smoker who is considering this
method has to want to quit; self interest is obviously involved, even if it
appears somewhat obliquely. However, the reason for wanting to quit doesn’t
have to be primarily for the smoker’s own needs, it can be more unselfish.
I know this method, although undeniably unorthodox, can be effective for
certain people. On my birthday in 1991, my partner, a three pack a day
chain smoker for almost thirty years, announced that she was giving me the
gift of a smoke-free environment. She realized her habit was seriously
exposing me to all the negative effects of second-hand smoke. She also knew
that I absolutely hated everything to do with smoking, but I endured it
because I loved her and believed she couldn’t quit. I’m happy to say she
has not had a single cigarette since that day nineteen years ago. She quit
“cold turkey” after almost making herself sick by smoking several packs the
day before. Anyone can decide that that their own integrity (keeping a
promise) is more important than all the cigarettes in the world. That’s
what she did when she gave her promise as a present to me. Also, what about
all the women whose last cigarette is the one they smoked just before
learning they were pregnant. Do you think those mothers who give up smoking
so their child can have a better chance at a healthy life are not not doing
it out of love for the baby, or maybe you just think they are not addicted.
So, yes--- you do come off as insulting. And I dislike stupid people who
leap to conclusions without knowing what they’re talking about!
