by Darren Warmuth
First of all, just talking about relapses can be dangerous because once the thought of slips enters the mind it is difficult to get rid of it, and you unconsciously will it to happen. Have you heard the story of a boy trying to learn cycling? He was so scared of hitting against the stone on the road that on a wide road he saw only the stone and banged right into it.
If you are thinking about quitting smoking, do not make plans for, nor allow for any 'slips', 'just ones' or any 'accidents' for that matter. The old saying goes - 'If you fail to plan, you plan to fail' but I would also like to add to that the advice of 'If you plan for slips or accidents, you are more likely to have one as opposed to if you adamantly tell yourself that there will be no allowance for moments of weakness.'
However, it is equally foolish to delude yourself that you cannot go wrong. So, when the slip does happen, chastise yourself until you feel completely guilty. Let the guilt go deep down so that it becomes a loud resisting voice when temptation strikes again. It is for this reason that support groups are recommended. They help you regain strength to overcome such hurdles.
If by chance you have had more than one 'slip' or have repeated 'slips', it is time to be honest with yourself. I know that a lot of people are going to disagree with me on this, but please don't send me any letters because I have probably spoken to more smokers and non-smokers about this subject than most people. My advice is this. Stop trying to fool yourself into thinking that these occasional slips are fine and are just part of the normal quitting process - they aren't!
You have to be continuously vigilant for these slips otherwise you will eventually start smoking as much as you used to smoke, if not more. Whether you like to believe it or not, this happens every time.
Admitting failure gives you strength to start again. If you slip too often, it is time to admit failure and start all over again. But, go slow the second time. Make a note of all that went wrong; try to collect information on how to deal with the specific problems and then start again. It is far better to realize that you have missed your target this time around and get back on a new and better course than to delude yourself that you are succeeding in your resolve to quit smoking barring the few aberrations.
It is much better to realize that you have missed your target this time around and get back on a new and better course than to continue smoking and that too with a guilty conscience. It will shatter your spirit completely.
About the Author:
Is there a magic quit smoking pill? - read some independent reviews of zyban, chantix, hypnosis etc. Also, click here to discover the stop smoking method Darren himself used.
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Don't Quit! Reverse It: How to mentally undo the habit of Smoking Cigarettes. It's no SECRET! List Price: $15.99 Sale Price: $12.94  |
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This book was written from personal experience. I did acquire the habit of smoking cigarettes around age 17 due to peer influence. I did quit several times before I successfully reversed the habit at age 24, it took me less than 6 months... |
