There is a winning combination of things that make a huge difference between success or failure when trying to make
changes in our living. All changes we want to make are in effect strongly opposed by almost every aspect of ourselves. Mentally,
emotionally, and physically. Basically, the body detests change. So, we need to set up a game plan to offset this problem.
Then, you add the addictiveness of nicotine, and you have a very powerful force to overcome.
Here are some thoughts that have not only worked for me (so far) in getting off nicotine,
but had previously worked on getting off alcohol. And, again, so far staying off.
Motivation:
I only came up with enough motivation to stop drinking after it was obvious I was going to
die in the gutter - real soon. As for smoking, it had not yet caused me great physical problems, and I really liked smoking.
So, I had to create some kind of strong motivation. What I did was write about all the facets of watching a very close friend
die a slow, lingering, painful death from lung cancer. I also wrote about how I would feel, if I had to carry a "lil ole green
bottle" of oxygen everywhere I went 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, as another friend of mine was doing. I
wrote all about what I saw watching these people, and how I would feel doing the same. The key was to etch these truths in
my head. The same truths that I had shunted aside for many years. I knew that writing will etch thoughts in my head about
15 or 20 times better than talking, and talking etches about 15 or 20 times better than thinking. That means that writing
etches about 300 times better than thinking. Oh.
Willingness:
I knew that the upheavals during the withdrawal period are rough. Uncomfortable. At least
somewhat traumatic. Etc., etc. And, I don't like discomfort, nor do I handle it well. I also knew that it gradually gets better.
(Too darned slowly for me) (I want it now). But, I knew that none of these discomforts would kill me. So - the question was
"Was I willing to go through all this upheaval and trauma". The answer was yes.
Determination:
Now, I needed sufficient determination to live up to my motivation and willingness. Well,
I had to hype myself, over and over. I had to make a commitment. I basically had to take the stand, that no matter what, I
was going to accept everything that hit me, and I was basically prepared to smash anything that got in my way. That is where
the "lil ole baseball bat" came in. I had to continually keep re-hyping myself. And, for good measure, I enlisted God's help
to help me live up to what I had agreed.
The last two items, I not only had to do to get through the withdrawals, but I have to continue
to do these in order to continue to stay quit. And, I have read account after account of people that did not continue to do
these things on a daily basis, along with their failures at staying quit.
Centered:
I need to keep centered about what I am trying to accomplish. My mind will take me out in
other areas, if I do not keep it centered. If I did not spend time on this board, I would gradually become less centered and
then even less centered, etc.
Concentration:
I have to spend a certain amount of time each day just working on making sure that I am concentrating
heavily on what my aim is - to stay quit.
It seems that a well-centered person who is concentrating on their quit program does a good
job of staying quit.
And, it has worked so well so far, that I think I will get up tomorrow morning and continue
to do the same things that have worked so far.
I am truly afraid to get complacent and have my centeredness and concentration levels slide
downhill. Because, I don't want to slide downhill - back into the clutches of "Ole Nickodemon" Let's face it, it took me an
awful lot of years to get free.
If anybody gets any good out of this - great.
Everything I wrote was what I keep needing to hear myself.
Have a great smoke-free day.
Non-smokin' Dave
