Comments on: OK - I get it now!

By: Neva Marjory

Neva Marjory — Sat, 15 May 2004 22:19:27 +0000

Hi, and welcome from me too. I’m glad you found us, and are
interested in exploring cognitive quitting. I found Steve’s site a
little over 15 months ago, and like you it made a lot of sense.
With support and guidance from Steve and others here I have now been
comfortably quit for 14 months, and can’t envisage any situation or
event whereby smoking would be a logical option ever again.
There are some member introductions in the ‘Files’ section so you
can find out more about some of us too, along with links to previous
posts eg about ABC’s.
Please holler if you need help or any explanations. Many of us use
ICQ, MS or AOL Messenger to chat things through, and details are in
the Files section if you’d like to connect with any of us.
All the best!
Pam
— In CognitiveQuitSmoking@y…, “poemcrazy2002x”

By: Neva Marjory

Neva Marjory — Sat, 15 May 2004 07:49:37 +0000

Ok - here’s one of Steve’s ‘lists’ posts (message 2491)- it’s going
into the Files section as there was some good discussion around it
at the time. I’ll add more as I find them:-
Hi all,
Lists help us collect and categorize. There are several that are
helpful to quitters. The generally accepted wisdom is make a list of
‘reasons to quit’. While you’ve heard me talking of ‘quit reasons’
lately,
there really is only one critical list as far as I’m concerned and
that’s a
list of ‘reasons why and when you smoked’. List times, events,
locations,
and activities. Why? Because most of those times, events, locations,
and
activities are connected to routine daily life and have only a

secondary or
associated connection to smoking. The times, events, situations, and
activities that *were* your ‘triggers in the past will be the very
same
triggers of urges and smoking thoughts in the future. Since we CAN
NOT
avoid every trigger, nor do we want to try that route, examine your
past,
make a list, and you’ll be armed to prepare for the future. For
those of
you who thing you dont need to prepare and can handle it ‘on the
fly’,
trust me, it’s very much to your benefit to be prepared for simple
events
that are a consistant part of your daily routines. Some of you who
are quit
for several months or more will back me up on this. Indi? Cat?
Others who
have discovered the advantages of preparation rather than ‘winging
it’?
Lets hear from you. Steve
www.cognitivequitting.com

By: Raleigh Missy

Raleigh Missy — Sat, 15 May 2004 00:42:09 +0000

I agree. Especially since I have none. Fortunately, willpower isn’t
necessary if you aren’t lighting up because, based on new aware thinking,
it doesn’t make sense. This is very different than not lighting up because
we are trying to ‘just not smoke’ for long enough for not smoking to become
‘comfortable’. That process over that amount of time requires tremendous
willpower.
Start thinking about some of your routine events and what specific
thoughts/inner statements/assumptions you use to support the historic
choice to light up. Then introduce some additional beliefs that are more
current or valid given your ‘foundation statements’ and watch how you will
automatically turn toward those choices because they make sense. I’m
grateful it has little to do with willpower or I’d probably still be smoking.
Steve

By: Neva Marjory

Neva Marjory — Fri, 14 May 2004 17:19:48 +0000

Hi Poemcrazy,
I can totally relate to the not wanting to publicize your quit. I
have done that 3 times in the last 4 months and every time the
pressure got to me. The worst was when after less than one week not
smoking my boss planned a big celebration for me and scheduled it for
the next month! Talk about pressure. I caved, faked it, and felt
horrible. Now I have only two people I share with. They are totally
supportive and I feel no pressure with them. They just offer their
shoulders and don’t judge where I am in the quit process. And it is a
process, I’ve learned. That is why I am trying this method. Willpower
is not enough baby! You and I both know that, so let’s give it a try.
I just started - am currently on Day 4. Glad to see you here!
— In CognitiveQuitSmoking@y…, “poemcrazy2002x”