always great reading this
--
:) Lynn VOF+ Leaper
"Everyone seems normal until you get to know them."
"DutchVanAfoort" <ZniborZ@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:488743e1$0$6026$ba620dc5@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> There's this joke about a kid, holding up a cat by it's tail. A group of
> bystanders are yelling at the kid to let go, but he holds on and stands
> there looking smug. Every time someone walks up to the kid he holds out
> the clawing cat in their direction to scare them off.
>
>
> An older lady walks up to the kid and tries a different approach. She
asks
> the kid what he's doing. 'I'm showing this cat a good time'. "Surely",
the
> lady says, "I don't have to point out the poor thing is screaming bloody
> murder, that cat for sure isn't having a good time". 'Sure', the boy
says,
> 'but he *will* when I let go'.
>
> --
>
> Mental imaging.
>
> Picture this:
> Ever been in an 'old school' zoo? Ever saw mighty animals like lions,
> tigers or bears pace up and down a cage coz they're stressed out?
>
> While you're addicted to smoking you're pretty much in a constant state
of
> nicotine shortage with short periods of relaxation when you put nicotine
> in
> your system. Imagine your addiction to be a cage and the periods where
you
> smoke you get out of the cage for a while to relax. Smoking keeps you in
> the cage while you hold the key in your own hands.
>
> Eh, you don't smoke anymore and you're out of the cage permanently with
> your quit as a key. So what's the attraction of getting out of the cage
> when you're already out? In other words, why do you still want to smoke
> when all the nicotine is out of your system? You think a non-smoker
would
> relax from smoking a cigarette? I'm no expert, but from what I read you
> have to create a nicotine shortage in your system first.
>
> Can't tell what it is like for you personally but I could think of a
> couple of reasons why being inside that cage can be attractive at times.
>
> You're outside your comfort zone still. You are still getting used to
> being a non smoker and sometimes that can make you feel uncomfortable
coz
> it's still somewhat unfamiliar at times.
>
> Man by nature, is a creature of habit. Sitting outside the cage
expanding
> your comfort-zone, might not be as attractive as being inside the cage
at
> times coz *that* is what you're used to. Thing is, voluntary lock-down
> makes as little sense as holding yourself up by the tail. No matter how
> used you are to it.
>
> Like the rest of us, you prolly have been thinking smoking was the
perfect
> solution for pretty much every problem in the book, even though deep
down
> you knew it never was a solution. We all pretended it was, right?
> At the least it bought us time. It gave us an excuse not to give up a
> habit we knew was bad for us.
>
> Remember the times when you wanted to quit? When people said you should
> quit? How much time didn't we all spend finding reasons to not have to
> quit? Painting our cages bright golden. Telling ourselves we didn't have
> to quit yet. That we were different and it was harder for us to quit. We
> didn't smoke enough to do serious damage, or we smoked to much to be
able
> to quit.
>
> --
>
> Find out what the attraction to the cage is for you and punch another
hole
> in your keycard if needed. You think you want to smoke for
> comfort, find comfort in something else. Give a loved one a hug or put
on
> some comfy clothes or take a nice blanket, sit on the couch and make
> yourself feel good in a more constructive way.
>
> You think of smoking as a solution to other problems still, find better
> ways to procrastinate. Find other small breaks, you get the drift. But
> stop painting the cage golden and see it for what it is. As pretty as
you
> pretend it to be, it is still a cage and smoking means voluntary
> lock-down.
>
> Take care of yourself and your needs in a better way. Go out, do
> something. Sleep, have ***. Millions of better ideas than spending the
day
> thinking you want to smoke. Don't stress and be ok with the craves.
> Remember, craves wont kill ya.
>
> Spot the false truths and learn to laugh about them. Craves are very
real,
> don't get me wrong here. They're just based on a false believe you do
want
> to smoke. You only *think* you want to smoke. Fact is you *want* to quit
> smoking instead. Realize this and the craves will be way better to
> handle.
>
> --
>
> I'll stop rambling after this. I never know for sure with this warped
> brain of mine, but what I'm probably on about is this:
>
> Be creative with your quit just like you have been while you were
smoking.
> We've all been exposed to enough information about the risk and health
> consequences and managed to counter pretty much every reason to quit
with
> a good reason *not* to quit. Use the same energy and creativity you used
> to find reasons to keep on smoking to help you stay quit.
>
> Be creative and look at your quit from a different perspective and find
> new strategies to tackle your addiction. The image of a cage or the idea
> of
> letting my nicoDemon pick me up by the tail works for me. Look inside
> yourself and you'll probably find an image that works even better for
you.
>
> --
>
> Sometimes, a detour is the fastest way out.
>
> Wish you all the best in your quit,
> Robin.
>
> --
> "Argue for your limitations and sure enough, they're yours."
>
>
>
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