How to Become a Non-Smoker

You already know all about the dangers of smoking cigarettes, but why is it so hard to quit?

It's definitely not logical to smoke... it says "Smoking kills" right on the cigarette pack, but that didn't stop you. On the other hand, if nicotine is so addictive, how come some people can fly on a plane without the taste? A heroin or cocaine addict cannot do that.

The problem is not a lack of information!

What is missing is the right kind of motivation.

Has the fear of a heart attack, emphysema, or lung cancer ever stopped you? No. This is because smoking kills nerve endings in the mouth, throat and lungs. You don't smell or taste as much as you used to, do you? Years go by and so damage occurs. So since you feel no pain, knowing the negative consequences of smoking is not sufficient motivation. And since most of the cigarettes you smoke are simply out of habit, you don't think about the dangers, even with the graphic pictures on the cigarette box or the dire warnings from your doctor.

Motivation comes in only two varieties: fear, pain, suffering... or self-interest.

Here's what I've found helps people be successful in the long run: focus on the positive rather than the negative... what you want, not what you don't want. Hypnosis is a focusing and empowering tool that can help you do just that.

In other words, it is more useful to focus on "being a non-smoker" than on "not smoking". Try not to think about the pink elephant right now and you'll see what I mean. Try not to think about smoking and that's all you can think about... when can you have another cigarette. For most smokers, the thought of "not smoking" causes great anxiety!

And when is ending something positive? Sounds like a failure. Focusing on the positive and the difference in situations where you used to smoke is what makes being a non-smoker more sustainable.

After all, who wants to live with a dark cloud hanging over their head? Do you need to amplify more stress and worry in your life? This could cause a heart attack!

Once you've chosen your day to become a non-smoker, it's paramount to reduce the amount you smoke per day rather than quitting "cold turkey". Quitting smoking 10, 15 or 20 cigarettes (or more) a day is like jumping off a fast moving train. It will be hard and it will turn your world upside down.

The key here is to build experiences of delayed gratification rather than creating a fear of deprivation that drives you to smoke more.

Cutting back to 2-3 cigarettes a day smoking a brand you don't like and changing your ritual smoking behavior will make the transition much, much smoother. This is the principle behind nicotine replacement methods. Unfortunately for most, with nicotine replacement, you haven't addressed the hand that still habitually reaches for a cigarette. It's not about chemicals; it's about increasing self-awareness, and you can't put self-awareness into a pill or a band-aid.