Quit Smoking through Positive and Self Talk Strategies
Image via WikipediaHow to apply positive self-talk and the self-hypnotic process to aid in quitting smokingCan positive self-talk really help me quit smoking?
Although positive self-talk will go a long way toward helping you quit, it is important to remember that in the end, the final decision rests with you. You must first truly want to and be committed to quitting your smoking habit before even the most powerful positive self-talk program can hope to be of any help to you.
What are some things I should do and say to myself in order to use positive self-talk to quit smoking?
- During your initial positive self-talk session as well as all the sessions that follow it is important that you remind yourself how much you want to quit smoking. During the first session, especially you will want to reinforce to yourself the decision that you have made to quit for good. You will want to tell yourself that the decision you have made to stop smoking is a final, concrete decision and that you will not put it off. You must stress to yourself that you are going to begin the quitting process immediately, not tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, and that you will not permit yourself any exceptions at all in any situation at all, granted that you want to give up smoking altogether.
- Repeat to yourself each day at least once a day the reasons you have listed for quitting smoking. These reasons may have come from the advice of a physician or a concerned loved one, or perhaps you are expecting children and are aware of the life-threatening consequences to them should you continue to smoke. Are there any physical ailments that have led to your decision, such as a chronic cough, chest pains, asthma, or other health issue that make smoking exceptionally undesirable? Repeat all of these reasons to yourself each day in front of a mirror, reinforcing your decision to quit for good.
- Be sure to convince yourself of the hazards to your own health and the health of others should you continue to smoke. Remind yourself that smoking will never improve your health and will actually be a lifelong detriment to it if you do not stop. Convince yourself that you must be willing to give up certain pleasurable habits in order to benefit your health and the health of those around you in the long term.
- Tell yourself repeatedly that you will not buy any more cigarettes or cigars or whatever it is, you are inclined to smoke. Suggest to yourself that you will not only not buy any more cigarettes, but that if you should weaken into accepting one from an acquaintance, you will immediately discard it or break it in half.
- Tell yourself that you are now preoccupied, perhaps even obsessed, with the compulsion to abstain from smoking. Remind yourself that the longer you keep from smoking at a time, the easier it will be to keep from smoking for good.
- Tell yourself how proud of yourself you will be once you have mastered the habit you are trying to break. Make a list of all the things you will be able to do with improved health and the money you have saved by not purchasing cigarettes, and carry it around with you. Read the list aloud to yourself as often as you need to in order to remind yourself of the worthwhile nature of your goal.
- Keep a record of your progress. That way, each week you can remind yourself aloud how long it has been since you last had a cigarette. As days turn to weeks, then months, and finally years, you will experience an ever-renewed sense of accomplishment each time you tell yourself how long it has been.
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