I hear that fairly often. Typically it’s a health concern that brings a person to a place where they accept that they should quit smoking (vaping, drinking excessively, or using other substances.) But they really don’t want to quit because they “like it!” I’m not sure that anyone actually likes sucking toxic soot into their …
NOTE: If you grasp the five distinct aspects of your complicated relationship with tobacco (or other substances) you are already way more likely to be successful at taking back your freedom. As you probably know, unless you’re very new here, we envision those five distinct aspects as the heads of a dragon. If you want …
9/11 is a day that we will never forget. Janice has a very special reason to remember that day and the truth that silenced the “little voice in my head.”
I have never accepted what was the conventional wisdom that addicted people needed to “just say no” or choose differently. I didn’t believe it was that simple.
On May 13, 1918 the United States Postal Service issued it’s very first Air Mail stamp. For 24 cents you could send a piece of mail by airplane, which was significantly faster than the “pony express.” One batch of those famous stamps became infamous because the image of the biplane printed in blue ink inside …
Today I am incredibly proud of a brave friend, Marion, who quit smoking tobacco three years ago! That’s an impressive milestone, especially since tobacco is considered a more clinically complex addiction than any other! She has defeated her “5-Headed Dragon!” Her accomplishment is all the more astounding since a few weeks after she quit, a …
“Perfection is no small thing, but it is made up of small things.”~Michelangelo (NOTE: – I actually think that in most instances “perfection” is really a myth. But that’s a story for another day.) Were I to speak for Michelangelo (How dare I?!) I’d feel comfortable replacing the word ‘perfection’ with ‘lasting change’ or ‘success’ …
The one who falls and gets back up is so much _________ than the one who never fell. I think we can fill in that blank with any of these words:– braver– wiser– smarter– stronger– readier– humbler– kinderAnd in the long run, the one who falls and then rises is more likely to be…– grateful– …
Having the right tools for a job changes everything. When you think about positive changes you’ve made in your life, what was helpful? Consider sharing some of those “tools” with others. Your tip or support could change someone’s journey from “impossible” to “possible.” Sharing your experience can empower and inspire others! And maybe sharing with …
Changing our behavior can be a challenge, especially if there’s an addiction involved. At Quitters Win, we have learned that a Change Plan or Quit Plan needs to be comprehensive and cover five specific aspects. Be sure to read about BESOCHEMPS, the 5-Headed Dragon. It’s a unique and highly effective way to see and then …
“BESOCHEMPS” PS-ychological Compulsion The PS in besochemPS is surely the slipperiest aspect of the beast – psychological compulsions. It’s quite evident that under different circumstances and to varying extents, we are all willing to participate in a behavior that we know is causing us certain harm. We’ll all quickly agree that it is not OK …
“BESOCHEMPS” EM-otional Urges EMotional urges can lead us to want to smoke (or use other substances/behaviors) as a means of avoiding unpleasant feelings. If we are feeling, for example, anxious, we’ve learned to reach for the “relief” of a cigarette. The nicotine in our brain results in the release of endorphins, which make us feel …
“BESOCHEMPS” CH-emical Cravings The CH in besoCHemps reminds us to be aware of how our body/brain have learned to depend upon a regular daily dose of a chemical. When we don’t get the drug, we can become physically uncomfortable. It’s very important that you learn to tell the difference between wanting to smoke because you’re …
BESOCHEMPS” SO-cial Triggers The SO in beSOchemps makes us aware that there are familiar SO-cial situations that can make us think about using. Notice that again, the face and the place only have the power to make us THINK about using. They can’t “make” us do it. In classes and phone coaching with smokers, I …
“BESOCHEMPS” BE-havioral Triggers The first of the 5 heads of the dragon represents the behavioral triggers that have become associated with our using. For a smoker, some common behavioral triggers are pouring a coffee, starting the car, answering the phone, and finishing a meal. We use the letters BE to represent that connection between wanting …
