Consider this:
Already since 1972, over 60 million people in the USA alone have successfully quit smoking!
At one stage over 60% of the adult population was addicted to this drug. Today it is 28% and dropping.
Now, isn't this a fair thought.
If all these people can do it (60 MILLION OF THEM!) - and they include EVERY TYPE of person imaginable - surely that is PROOF that IT IS POSSIBLE to successfully quit smoking.
Here's another Fact.
We now know from the latest scientific research, that although nicotine is one of the world's fastest acting drugs --- the actual PHYSICAL withdrawal pangs when you give up ARE SO MILD, YOU WILL HARDLY BE AWARE of THEM WHEN YOU STOP.
YES, you have read that sentence right!
I know you will want to argue with me on this point, but, first, let me first make the following points.
The Desire to Smoke
Yes, when you stop smoking you will feel the desire AGAIN and AGAIN to smoke.
We all know that feeling -- 'I must have a cigarette'. But that desire in itself is not bad or painful.
It is just a feeling, a sensation we feel in our body.
However........this is where, for most of us our problems start.
If we start to fear that 'craving' or try to use 'Willpower' to REPRESS it or FORCE it go away, -- "I wish this feeling would go away" we WILL create pain and tension.
This is what as smokers we have all done in the past.
That 'feeling' of wanting to smoke then becomes painful, annoying and terribly irritating.
Now this is the hard part to realize.
The pain, the horror does not come from the desire to smoke, but from HOW we deal with this desire, moment-by-moment WHEN we stop.
Can I emphasize this.
You do not have to experience ANY pain or agony when you stop. Yes, when you stop you WILL experience a.
Temporary feeling of loss
A feeling that you are being deprived of something
A feeling of emptiness
A feeling that you will never be able to enjoy yourself again.
A feeling that you must have a cigarette
These feelings, although very real in themselves are not inherently bad or painful. What is important is how you deal with these feelings when you QUIT SMOKING.
The key part of quitting smoking naturally is learning how to deal with these cravings when you stop.
Conflict
Right now, you don't want to give up smoking because you are TERRIFIED of how you will FEEL when you can't smoke.
Let's be honest.
You smoke now because you enjoy it.
Or -- to be more accurate: You smoke now because you have conditioned yourself to enjoy it.
It is important that we are honest with ourselves here.
In fact, even the 'THOUGHT', the mere 'thought' of not been able to smoke probably fills you with complete dread now.
But there is another undeniable fact: This 'pleasure' is killing you. Again we must be brutally honest here. Everyday, you are systemically destroying your health.
This is the conflict all smokers face.
On the one hand, smoking is killing you and you desperately want to stop.
..And yet on the other hand, you don't really want to stop because you believe you really enjoy it.
Yet, one other truth cannot be denied and this applies to every smoker.
We are terrified of how we will F-E-E-L when we can't smoke. We are convinced it will be unbearable and impossible.
FEAR
Right now, the ONLY thing -- yes, THE ONLY THING stopping you from quitting smoking is this fear of how YOU WILL FEEL WHEN YOU STOP.
And yet this very fear is the actual key to quitting smoking naturally.
Quitting smoking is really all about learning HOW to deal with the cravings and feelings you WILL get when you stop.
When you learn how to do that - you will realize that there is nothing to fear when you give up.
What is there to fear?
When you get the craving to smoke, which you will, again and again - - you will now take the OPPORTUNITY to 'change' or 'transform' that craving so that it is actually enjoyable or at least tolerable to experience.
Imagine.
You have decided to give up smoking. It's dinnertime.
You have finished a day's work.
You finish your meal and ..... subconsciously, you reach for a cigarette. But then, of course you remember you no longer smoke.
Bang! At that moment, certain gut feelings will arise.
Feelings of regret........a feeling that you are missing out on something important and then maybe..... terrible feelings of emptiness..... We all know how it feels.
But the real question is: How will you deal with this feeling -- this craving to smoke?
Will you just suffer it, try to repress it and hope that it will go away? That is one option. The old willpower method.
Or will you give in to the feeling -- and start to smoke again (promising to start again tomorrow)?
Or will you - - for the first time ever: - - follow our instructions and actually ALLOW yourself to transform the feeling/craving so that it is actually enjoyable or at least pleasant or tolerable enough to experience.
You see, when you can do that, you will no longer be AFRAID of these cravings when you stop smoking.
In fact, you will start to WELCOME them because they will give you another opportunity to RESPOND and DEAL with them in this NEW WAY.
This process is the essence of quitting smoking naturally and finding it a pleasant and life-affirming experience.
Weight-loss?
Are you now beginning to see how these principles can also apply to losing weight.
You see a beautiful cake. You want to eat it....when BANG! -- You remember you are on a diet.
Now watch HOW YOU feel when this happens?
Couldn't we describe it as.
'Feelings of regret........a feeling that you are missing out on something important and then maybe..... terrible feelings of emptiness.
Isn't it essentially the same feeling as not being able to smoke?
However, the real question is the same with smoking: How will you DEAL with this feeling - this craving to eat?
Will you GIVE IN to it -- and eat the cake or will you try and FORCE yourself not to eat it- and be miserable?
Why not consider our alternative?
Accept this feeling, this desire to eat. But, instead of giving in to it, learn how to deal and respond to it in a NEW way so that you don't MIND experiencing it?
Transform the craving so that it is actually enjoyable or very pleasant to experience.
The Joy of quitting Smoking?
Remember, when you stop - yes, you WILL feel something but there will be no physical agony, only a temporary feeling that you are MISSING OUT on something. A feeling that you are being deprived of something SPECIAL --- but these feelings will ONLY be temporary.
However, to quit smoking successfully and to start to enjoy doing it we must go deeper than these temporary cravings.
We must realize that:
You find it difficult or impossible to stop smoking now because......... you BELIEVE ABSOLUTELY that you NEED to smoke and even deeper, you BELIEVE that if you give up smoking now, your life will never be as ENJOYABLE again.
In one sentence: You believe your life will be intolerable.
It is these beliefs that makes quitting smoking difficult NOT Nicotine addiction.
Right now, you are not only physically addicted to smoking but you are psychologically dependent or addicted to smoking.
If your addiction were purely physical wouldn't all these nicotine patches have a 100% success record!
Yet, we all know that even if we use a nicotine substitute, we will still continue to feel a terrible desire to smoke.
Again and again, we'll feel we must have a cigarette. At times, it will even get to the stage where we just don't care - even the most dire health warnings will have no affect on us - we just WANT to smoke. Where does this desire come from ?
It comes from our conditioning, our beliefs about smoking.
This moment, we believe that smoking is an essential pleasure. In fact, most of us have a terrible resistance to EVEN thinking about quitting smoking.
Why ?
Because we believe that in order to do anything about our addiction, i.e. give up smoking -- we would have to end our pleasure and ending pleasure is something we have NO DESIRE to do.
YOUR REAL JOB
Your real job in giving up smoking lies in REALLY UNDERSTANDING that you don't NEED to smoke.
You remove the psychological addiction to smoking.
You will never be truly free until you realize that smoking is not a real pleasure and that when you stop, you WILL NOT BE depriving ourselves of a real pleasure....... ......and then you will not only be able to give up smoking for good but you will enjoy doing it!
© http://www.quitsmokingonline.com - All Rights Reserved.
Is it possible to enjoy, yes ENJOY quitting smoking - and not gain ANY weight? Follow Sean O'Riain famous 10-day free online Quit Smoking Course at www.quitsmokingonline.com and prove it for yourself.
Others quit smoking articles available at http://www.quitsmokingonline.com/Articlecontentspage.htm
This article will help you remove the need to smoke naturally by argument and reason alone.
About The Author
Mike Mor
I am the author of 'How to Remove the Psychological Addiction TO Smoking' and of 'the Bliss of meditation' at www.meditation-zen.com. This allows me to apply the principles of meditation theory to the process of quitting smoking.
You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.
Did you know that some smells cause headache?Its true, the... Read More
Glutamate is one of the most important transmitters of chronic... Read More
Persons with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are especially susceptible to... Read More
Citrus JuicesCitrus juices are a constipation remedy that is an... Read More
Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurobehavioral disorder of... Read More
I have been reading a lot lately on the subject... Read More
If you have high cholesterol, you should educate yourself about... Read More
Aromatherapy is a well known holistic method for healing, but... Read More
Natural Health is a form of alternative lifestyle whereby individuals... Read More
Aura and space clearing can be accomplished in a number... Read More
A historyHerbs have been used for hundreds of years before... Read More
How safe is your Indoor Air?1) Does your home have... Read More
You've seen the stage acts where a hypnotist selects someone... Read More
Bee's and Bee NutritionWhat is the buzz about bee Nutrition?... Read More
Do you ever listen to other people's conversations? I mean... Read More
Getting quality sleep has, for many, become an elusive goal... Read More
You should always keep in mind that whatever actions you... Read More
Illness concerns everyone. How can we approach it? And what... Read More
Being one of the panchamahabhoota, agni (fire) has the characteristic... Read More
Holistic Medicine involves natural treatment options like holistic nutrition, herbology,... Read More
A recent case in the news highlights an alarming trend... Read More
A hot cup of tea might be just the thing... Read More
Complementary Medicine is the use of natural therapy and medicines... Read More
Understanding what holistic medicine is:Holistic Medicine is a wellness-based approach... Read More
PROBABLY one of the most... Read More
Because of our mechanized and industrialized society we find toxic... Read More
Are you aware that one of the most important indicators... Read More
With today's new building procedures, our homes are more dangerous... Read More
Is magnet therapy regarded yet as a mainstream therapy? I... Read More
"If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere"... Read More
Some people say that prevention is better than cure. That... Read More
All Refined Carbohydrates are Hazardous to Your Health. The average... Read More
To relieve hemorrhoids first look for ways to get your... Read More
Essential Oils are the heartbeat of the plant kingdom, and... Read More
Fibromyalgia is a mysterious disease that is effecting more and... Read More
For years I've prided myself on believing that I take... Read More
There are actually three common types of arthritis. These are... Read More
Human Growth Hormone (HGH) has long been viewed as a... Read More
I have been reading a lot lately on the subject... Read More
Each of us most likely has at least one memory... Read More
For over 3000 years, the Chinese have been using green... Read More
Now is an incredible time to be on Earth. All... Read More
So, where does disease come from? How does it get... Read More
Reflexology therapy, (an ancient art practiced by early Egyptians), is... Read More
There are many varieties of mint plants. If you want... Read More
Overwhelmed by studies, research and the constantly changing diet, nutrition... Read More
Anxiety is a pernicious little devil; it can hold us... Read More
Here are some more constipation remedies using fruits. Try to... Read More
Glasses, contacts, or surgery. These are the usual choices offered... Read More
Why do the Japanese have the longest lifespan? Last month... Read More
Home Remedies - Facts or Quacks?In a previous article we... Read More
One whiff of this unique fragrance will be enough to... Read More
If So What Is It and What Does It Do?In... Read More
What It IsAyurveda is the traditional medical system of sub-continental... Read More
I'd like to share with you some basic food combining... Read More
Drawing on the inspiration of loaves, fish, and wine, a... Read More
If you work and are spending one third to one... Read More
Everyone with a medical condition or allergy should have a... Read More
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental and emotional condition that... Read More
When spring comes it is time for a liver cleanse.... Read More
Are you looking for tips on stopping smoking? And would... Read More
Vibrational medicine attempts to treat people with various forms of... Read More
Having had the rare, first-hand opportunity to observe cold laser... Read More
Naturopathy is a holistic therapy that relies on natural remedies.... Read More
I want to share a health alert with you. So... Read More
In Part 1 we discussed the fact that alternative medicine... Read More
Alternative Medicine |