_It's that time of year when many of us may have made a New Years Resolution. It's also that time of year when most of us will have slipped up. Statistics show that lots of us don't make it for two weeks. But resolutions attached to a rather arbitrary calendar date are certainly not the only way to make changes (and probably not the best way.)

Change is usually difficult and I think it's really important that we don't beat ourselves up if/when we slip up.

Remember that your beliefs are the key to your behaviors. If we carefully examine our beliefs we will find the ones that support continuing smoking. I used to believe "I'm too young to worry about what these cigarettes are doing to my health." At some point something or someone challenged that belief. If they challenged my belief in a respectful manner, I was more likely to "hear" them. (Please remember that when we try to challenge other folks' beliefs.) Once we change those beliefs that support smoking, the behavior of smoking is much easier to stop because it is not supported.

So when I discover, for instance, that I believe "Smoking is the only reward I allow myself," I apply a healthy dose of truth. Smoking is not a "reward," it is shortening my life, emptying my wallet, stinking up my clothes, and making it less likely that I'll get to see my grandchildren graduate. Ouch! Yes, that is the truth and the truth will set us free. So if I apply that truth to our ideas about "rewards," I will no longer be comfortable thinking I am "rewarding" myself when I smoke.

We can chip away at those false beliefs and replace them with healthy truths, gradually and permanently changing our behavior. That will be the REAL SOLUTION, preferable to any fleeting RESOLUTION. Make it a happy, healthy new YOU!

Be CONSCIOUS of your BELIEFS.
Then CHALLENGE the BELIEFS that support smoking with truths.
You'll CHANGE your BELIEFS!
Now CHANGING your BEHAVIOR will be much easier!

Thanks for taking good care of you!
 


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