Want To Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking needs powerful motivation.  This is the third in my series of tips and techniques which are drawn from my experience as a smoking cessation specialist at a leading private clinic where our techniques achieve outstanding success.

You are likely reading this because you want to quit smoking.  You may have even tried and failed to do so by using the various methods advertised.  One reason that these drugs, patches or gadgets don’t have a high success rate is that they don’t target the psychology of the problem.  Smoking is in your mind right?  You may often hear that logical part of the mind arguing with the child-like part that is hanging on to your habit with a vengeance.  It’s the “I want to but I can’t” syndrome.

One of the ways of improving your chances of quitting smoking for good is to take a look at your motivation in two ways.  Spend 10 minutes with a pencil and paper in front of you.  Don’t cop out and try to do this exercise in your mind; write it down because that connects your physical and mental processes and helps to make the technique even more powerful.

Start by drawing a line down the middle of the page.

On the left of the line you write all the things you hate about smoking and WHY you hate them.  So if you write “The smell”, add the word “because” and list all the reasons you hate the smell:  like how it hangs around on your clothes and hair or how you avoid getting to close to people in case they notice it or whatever that reason means to you.  If it’s your health you’re worried about, don’t just put “poor health”, write down the symptoms like coughing, wheezing, being unable to climb stairs without puffing, worrying that you’ll be taken from your family too soon … everything.  Include really personal stuff; examine your dislikes in detail – no one need see this document.

When you’ve completed that side write the benefits of quitting smoking on the other side.  Again, include some detail like:  “I’ll be healthier and fitter; I’ll be able to go to the gym; I’ll be around for my children longer …”  or “The money I save will go into a holiday fund … or I’ll be able to pay my bills on time … or I’ll be able to save for a new car”.  Whatever the benefits are for you.

One thing to beware of.  On the “benefits” side don’t write “I won’t have (problem) any more”  In other words it’s not about what you will no longer have, it’s about what you WILL achieve.  This process should also include your pride in quitting smoking, your delight, your sense of achievement.  Add all the excitement and feelings of success you can, and FEEL them as you write.

This will increase your motivation enormously and, when you’ve read and absorbed the other articles in this series, you’ll find quitting smoking easier than you ever thought possible.  I know you’ve struggled in the past but just spending 10 minutes a day working on these methods will have you quitting smoking easily and effortlessly.