Every single day you complete smoke free early on is a VICTORY, plain and simple. You may not think so, but every day you put between you and that last cigarette you smoked is working to strengthen your resolve. Little by little, you’re teaching yourself how to live without cigarettes. Honor that effort daily for the first month or so and pamper yourself! Don’t wait for others to pat you on the back - do it for yourself. Your rewards don’t need to be elaborate. Something simple like time alone to relax with a good book, or a hot bath at the end of the day can go a long way toward helping you feel good about the work you’re putting into smoking cessation. If you can choose rewards that also help you release tension, all the better.
6. If You Want to Change Your Life, Change Your Mind.
It has been said that the average person has approximately 60,000 thoughts a day. Our minds are constantly active, and you’d be surprised at how many of the things we think are negative thoughts directed at ourselves. And most of us repeat those self-defeating thoughts over and over and over again. Give yourself a break and get out of the rut! Begin to pay attention to what you’re thinking. Replace thoughts of I can’t with statements of I can and I am. Plant seeds using your thoughts of the outcome you want. Give yourself positive cues. For example, you may think:
"I feel miserable without my cigarettes! I'll never stop missing them."
That is NOT a thought that will help you achieve success with quitting smoking. As soon as you are aware of it, take action to mentally modify the negative thought. Say to yourself instead something like this:
"I know that the discomforts I'm feeling are signs that my body is recovering from the addiction to nicotine. I also know it won't last forever, and that much better days are ahead, once I'm free."
The life you want begins with your thoughts. Don't buy into negative, self-defeating thinking - you're capable of so much more! Train your mind to help you. If you want to change your life, change your mind. Change what smoking means to you and you will find your freedom. Read Commit to Quit! Developing the Will to Quit Smoking for more on how to condition your mind to help you get the results you want most in life.
7. Use Patience and Time as Quit Buddies..
People who quit smoking want to have all of the discomforts associated with recovery from nicotine addiction to be over with quickly. It’s understandable, but not realistic. Recovery from this habit that held us hostage for so long takes time, and the more you can relax and use time to your advantage, the better you’ll do. Be patient with yourself and understand that you’re going through a healing process that is very personal. How long it takes you to put smoking behind you shouldn’t be compared with anyone else. Trust in the process and give yourself the time you need to heal. Get up every day determined not to smoke and be grateful and proud of every smoke free day you complete. Time will take you further and further away from the familiarity of smoking, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!
I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.
~Thoreau~
