How I did it: i went for vipassana meditation which is a 10 day course.  i stay on site and you are not allowed to smoke during the 10 days.  so, i stopped smoking.  there were no cravings as i was preoccupied.  the hard part came when the 10 days was almost up... do i continue to NOT smoke?  i battled myself with this decision as i was not prepared to give up smoking.  i love it!  however, it was quite an achievement for me that in my 17 years of smoking, 10 days was the longest i had not smoked (i had never tried or wanted to stop smoking).  i decided to then try to continue to not smoke.  it was difficult going home as there were so many associations with smoking.  to help me along, i read the book, allen carr's easy way to stop smoking.  that sealed the deal for me... i firmly decided not to smoke anymore.  it helped me see nicotine as the drug that it is and i REFUSE TO BE A DRUG ADDICT.  i am not the least bit tempted to pick up that cigarette again.  since i have stopped smoking, i have been through all the scenarios i would usually smoke... sadness, anger, partying, on holiday, boredom... life is better.

Lessons & tips: get real, don't be in denial and stop making excuses for yourself.  you really are better off not smoking.

Resources: read the book, allen carr's easy way to stop smoking.

Oct 21, 2009, 04:54AM PDT | 0 comments | 3 cheers