Do Not Smoke - One Of The 77 Secrets
***Don't Smoke***
Confession time: I smoked, on and off, for 30 years. I lost around 10 teeth as a result and I think myself lucky to have 'got away with it'.
Smoking kills. Make no mistake. If you speak to any smoker, they
want to or are thinking of quitting. The reason for this is fairly simple. They know that smoking is not good for them. It makes them smell, gives them bad breath, is expensive and causes untold damage to their lungs and other vital organs. It also causes depression and other untold misery.
Look, I am not going to go on. There's plenty of documentation out there about the dangers of smoking and that is why most Western governments are now putting work and public place bans on smoking.
Smoking is not good for you. In fact, if governments spent 100% of the revenue received from the excise duties raised from the sale of tobacco products, on the re-education of smokers, instead of the 0.5% (yes, 1/200th) currently spent, then there would be no need for me to be spouting this message. People would be educated, even brainwashed, about the evils of smoking. However, the truth of the matter is that various governments around the world have been 'bought' by the tobacco lobby and not only have they become 'addicted' to the lobbyist donations (or bribes), they have also become 'addicted' to the revenues that tobacco produces for the general coffers. So, the answer lies with you my friend and it is fairly simple...
If you don't smoke, don't start.
If you do smoke, find a way to stop.
By the way, after smoking on and off for 30 years, I had a £1,000 bet with a friend that the next one of us to light up, after an agreed date, would pay £1,000 to charity. That one simple strategy stopped us both smoking there and then (and we have both saved enough to afford the £1,000 donation, but we have not started again). But that's just one strategy, it worked for us. Try it. Try anything. But whatever you do: STOP SMOKING (or don't start).
I'll have more for you tomorrow. I hope you enjoyed this secret,
please let me know. Just hit 'Reply' and it should find me.
All the very best,
Allen Jesson
Co-Founder
vitali-chi.com
Energy For Life
PS As a result of receiving many replies on this subject (see PPS as an example), I decided to come up with my top ten strategies to quit. They are:
1. Have a bet with a fellow smoker that you will quit (as I did
above).
2. Try a countdown quit i.e. today I'll smoke 20, the day after 19 etc.
3. If you fall off the quitting bike, get back on it again (and
again and again if need be).
4. Plan a weekend where you can lie in bed, watch DVDs and feel
sorry for yourself. Quit on the Friday night. Do not smoke on that weekend. Try not to smoke on the Monday (but even if you do, you have managed two days smoke free, the next time won't be so bad).
5. Know that the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal only
lasts 48 to 96 hours. Get through that and the back is broken.
6. Recognize when you smoke. Keep a smoking diary. When do you
smoke? In what situations? What triggers the urge to smoke? Change those situations (e.g. go for a walk at lunchtime instead of having a smoke)
7. Create a list of the reasons to smoke. Then create another list of reasons not to smoke. Be honest with yourself. Include the psychological reasons why you smoke (or why you started). Pin the two lists on the fridge or somewhere prominent.
8. Recognize that nicotine is a very powerful drug and that you
won't be really free of it for a couple of YEARS after quitting.
Never think (after quitting for a period of time) "I'll just have the one" or "I'll just have a cigar". Before you know it you'll be back where you started (if not worse).
9. Let the negative feelings about smoking build up inside of you. Feed on them. Hate yourself for smoking. Be embarrassed when you have to go outside for a smoke. Smell your clothes. Smell your skin. Look at your tired and blurry eyes in the mirror. Is that who you set out to be?
10. Get serious and determined about packing up. But don't buy gum or e-cigarettes, they will just keep you addicted to the drug or the habit.
In closing, all I can say is good luck. It is possible. I haven't smoked for 8 years now and there is no way I'm going back. Please offer me a million dollars to have one cigarette (I will not accept it).
Finally: You can do this. YES, YOU CAN.
PPS Here's a typical reply from a valued subscriber (to show that you are not alone):
"Hi again Allen,
As usual, this was excellent! I have to admit, smoking is very
expensive. And I am not even smoking an expensive brand. Imagine how much money I could spend elsewhere...should I quit completely!
I am slowly but surely brainwashing myself into thinking cigarettes make me sick. So after every cigarette, I feel queasy. And even right now, I am forcing myself to think about the horrible smell on my fingers from the cigarette I had in my lunch break.
I have even done research about the e-cigarettes...but also, they said that I will be best off to quit altogether. So much harm is done to our bodies on a daily basis, just by eating and drinking (even water in my area!). Why would I possibly want to continue doing even more harm to myself? And for what? Who will look after my child if I have to leave this body too soon?
I know that I have the will power to break just about any
habit...so why on earth is it so difficult to cut my bond with
these silent killers?
Where there's a will, there's a way...and I will simply not give up!
Wish me luck.
Beaulah"
{GOOD LUCK}
