Studies of smokers who
successfully quit smoking show that one of the most important traits of a successful
quitter is their belief that they have the ability to quit smoking.
Do you believe that you can quit? If you don't, you will have a much harder time trying to
quit. The best action you can take right now to start the quitting process is to fix in
your mind the belief that you have the ability to quit smoking. You might say that you
can't change your belief, but you can.
Believing you can quit is so important because your belief will guide everything you do in
your attempt to quit. The way you think, the research you do, the steps you take, the
people you talk to, the help you seek--all these will be influenced by the belief you have
in your ability to give up cigarettes.
If you don't truly believe you can quit, you'll probably find yourself saying,
"What's one little cigarette? I've got a headache. I just can't quit like other
people." If you believe you can quit, instead you'll be saying "My head is
hurting from withdrawal, but I can make it through this. I know the headache and other
withdrawal symptoms will go away in a few days. My life is more important than a stupid
cigarette." Believing
shapes everything you do. So does not believing. If you believe something strongly enough
your mind will give you the correct thoughts to help your body take you in the direction
of your belief.
Can you imagine what life would be like if Thomas Edison hadn't believed that he could
invent the incandescent light bulb? If Edison had begun his search for the solution
without really believing he could create a light bulb that worked, he would have quit long
before finding the answer. Edison tested more than 10,000 combinations of materials before
finding the right one to create a light bulb! You must believe that you can quit smoking,
even if it takes 10,000 attempts.
Fixing in your mind a belief that
you can quit smoking may sound impossible if you now believe that you don't have the
ability. Here are some tips to help you change your beliefs:
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Realize that your old belief was
founded on old ideas and circumstances and that your new belief is based on new
information and your newfound desire to quit smoking now.
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On 3X5 cards, write out several
positive statements about your ability to quit. Read your cards three times a day:
morning, noon and bedtime. Some statements to use: "I believe that I have the ability
to quit smoking," "I am a non-smoker," "I no longer need cigarettes in
my life," "I happily quit smoking," "It's easy to quit smoking,"
"I am a powerful, self-directed person," "I control my own life." Make
up some of your own statements. Make them positive, as if you have already completed the
task. |
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Post a sign on your bathroom mirror
with one of the above statements on it. |
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Repeat the above statements to
yourself, whenever you have a free moment. |
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Use visualization techniques to
visualize yourself mastering your smoking habit and winning the fight. |
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Ask your family and friends to
encourage you with positive statements about your ability to quit smoking. |
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