When temptation strikes, what do you do? Do you eat that piece of chocolate or do you go for the healthy apple? Ah, decisions, decisions. As you would expect, smoking is no different. When you want to quit, temptation seems to haunt you from every corner. If there was only some kind of secret to help your stop smoking mojo. How many articles have you read that say they have the secret to successfully quitting smoking? One person says hypnosis, another says Chantix, and someone else says to put this eye dropper of liquid under your tongue twice a day or when cravings are tough. Don't bother asking them what's in the liquid, just pay your money and move on.
Hey, there are over 20% of the population who smoke. There are also thousands of people who quit every year. So everyone has a story to tell about what works or doesn't work for them. You have to remember that your nicotine addiction is individual, like a fingerprint. No two are alike. In fact, your genetics play a role in your addiction. Then there's the environmental and social pressures you face that are unique to your situation. So don't think your success or failure is guaranteed because of how someone else performed.
Interestingly, scientists published in the journal, Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, their idea that people who attempt to quit smoking, may not be trained in how to approach the hazards and withdrawal cravings. They set out to examine the impact of practicing acts of self-control on the rate of relapse during quit attempts. The researchers thought a treatment plan that improved a person's self-control would aid them in quitting.
After your quit date, how easy is it to think that one little cigarette won't hurt. Many have been sabotaged by this little thought. As we know, that cigarette leads to another and then another, etc. However, the researches discovered that self-control, much like a muscle, can get stronger when it's worked out; think of it as mental calisthenics. They also found that just thinking about self-control didn't do the trick. The participants actually had to perform acts of self-control for the desired effect.
Their results were significant. Those who practiced acts of self-control prior to quitting, had a lower rate of relapse than those who didn't. People often try to breakdown smoking cessation into core elements. Sustaining will power has always been a tenet of any quit smoking program. Although there is no easy way to quit smoking, there is a simple way - practicing self control. What's nice about this way, is it will pay off in other areas of your life as well. So boost your will power by working it out - no gym membership required.
