These are some practical strategies for your toolbox along your journey of change and recovery! Learning new coping skills is essential as you move forward from your unhealthy relationship with tobacco or other substances.
Thousands of brave folks trying to quit tobacco have certainly convinced me that there are many ways to succeed at quitting. What works for one person doesn’t always work for the next person.
That said, I would like to keep folks from facing avoidable frustrations. There are some basic truths which I think apply to every quitter’s journey, even while we are in some ways different. Over time, brave folks have cleared a few trails up the “mountain” we call quitting. Some of those paths are well-worn, tried, and true. So why not learn from the experience of those who have gone before us?
Plenty of folks get a few text messages every week to remind them to stay positive and take positive steps, but QuittersWin is more than just feel-good text messages and blog posts. For people dealing with addictions or compulsive behaviors, QuittersWin can be a game-changer or life-saver. By serving brave folks addicted to tobacco and […]
A Reminder, a Dragon, and a Download Read More »
I think we all need a checkup from the neck up at times – perhaps often! I understand that the spirit of mindfulness would have us be aware of our thoughts without judging them. But I also understand that holding certain thoughts can have a distinctly negative effect upon our well-being. So I will always
Checkup from the Neck up? Read More »
Our days and nights are filled with small actions which we perform routinely, often without conscious thought. Those little bits of life are often the drivers which keep us moving, learning, living, and earning. So much of life consists of tiny habits! If there are aspects of our lives that we want to change, we really
BJ Fogg’s Tiny Habits Bring BIG Changes Read More »
Being kind to self isn’t always easy. Even understanding what self kindness is can be a bit confusing. We have talked about how harshly we sometimes judge self and how that can make matters worse. We don’t criticize a leopard cub for not being able to fend for itself. (is that little critter not adorable?!)
Please don’t be fooled by the cute photo – this post isn’t just “warm and fuzzy!” Kristin Neff is a researcher on the topic of self-compassion and author of “Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself.” She believes that there are three steps toward greater self-compassion. The three steps or aspects of self-compassion
Kristin Neff is a researcher on the topic of self-compassion and author of “Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself.” She believes that there are three steps toward greater self-compassion. Her book sounds interesting and I’ll put in my listening queue. According to a recent Washington Post article by Carrie Dennett, the three
Steps to Self-Compassion Read More »
Disclaimer: I realize the inherent irony in this post. You’re no doubt reading it on an electronic device from which I’m proposing you detach yourself. “Such a blessing, such a curse!” That how I see the internet. That’s how I see mobile phones. That’s how I see computers. They bring things to our lives every
By Wil Darcangelo Spiritual Coordinator at First Parish Church of Fitchburg, MA I’m very excited to share a meditation I experienced yesterday. It so resonated with some of my core beliefs that I asked Wil if I could share it. With the grace he seems to wear so comfortably, he allowed me to share it
Who Are You Meditation Read More »
“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’
Big Fan of Small Things Read More »
On February 25th in 1964 Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) became the world heavyweight boxing champion. He would become a bigger than life character in the world of boxing. His reputation reached around the globe in many ways. He remains an unforgettable figure. One of the things I recall and I mention often,
A Butterfly, a Bee, and Muhammad Ali Read More »
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–
Opportunities are like sunsets – if you wait too long, they’re gone. And even while the sun WILL set tomorrow, it will be a different sunset. Similarly, the opportunity that tomorrow MIGHT hold, will not be the opportunity that today holds. Seize it. Do it now. What are we waiting for? We all know that
Opportunities and Sunsets Read More »
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – maybe in different words: Failure can teach you more than success, IF you’re willing to learn. Missteps, mistakes, slips, stumbles, fumbles, relapse, or falling off the wagon… call it what you wish. The failure isn’t you’re undoing and it doesn’t need to be the end.
Mess Up? Listen Up, and Move Up! Read More »
– Want to finish this day with a deep sense of accomplishment? – Want to have a really successful week in which you achieve realistic goalsand check off lots of things on your ‘to do’ list? – Want to reduce stress, anxiety, and feelings of guilt in your life? Set aside 20 minutes today to
Sometimes there are things that we don’t want to share with others, or things we need to process before we share. If there isn’t a deeply trusted friend handy, try telling your story to a journal. Paper and ink don’t judge, but they help you think through and think about things in a generally helpful
Tell It To Your Journal Read More »
