Create Some Quit Smoking Magic

About.com Smoking Cessation support forum member Beth (forum name Nyniane) shares an interesting variation on creating a list of reasons for quitting tobacco. If you're still smoking, give this list a try and make some quit smoking magic of your own.

Thanks, Beth!

Magic is the science and art of causing change in conformity with the Will.
-- Aleister Crowley

It's still magic even if you know how it's done.
-- Terry Pratchett

Just in time for Halloween, let's do a quit smoking spell. (I actually did this the night before I quit and again a week later. Look at my stats and decide whether it worked. ;-)

Sit alone in a dimly lit room. Candles are nice. Paper and pen are needed. Just sit quietly. Calm your mind. Put on some music if that helps to still the mind; native drumming or new age-y stuff or classical; stay away from anything that makes you jumpy. Chant (or pray) if it helps you go into trance. Stay this way until you are totally calm, focused and relaxed.

On your paper, write four headings. They should be:

• Know
• Dare
• Will
• Keep Silent

Under each heading, write about...quitting tobacco. Not about quitting in the past, though your knowledge of what you need to do may contribute to what you put there. Do total stream of consciousness stuff, but keep it POSITIVE. Do not write about past mistakes. Write about future victories.

For example, your list may include (but is not limited to):

Know: (What do you know about smoking and/or quitting)

• I know I taught myself to smoke through conditioning.
• I know that cigarettes do nothing for me.
• I know that smoking kills and maims.
• I know that every ending is a beginning.
• I know that one puff will make me stay a smoker.

Dare:

• I dare to make the change.
• I dare to face a clean new me.
• I dare to face each and every situation smoke-free.
• I dare to achieve my goals.

Will: Your True Will is more than fleeting desire.

• It is my will to be free.
• I will not smoke today. (Or tomorrow) (Ordinarily you don't want to use the word "not", but it works in this instance.)
• I will own my quit.

Keep Silent:

• Turn off the "mind voice" when smoking thoughts begin.
• Don't share your innermost feelings (or methods) with doubters until your quit is secure.
• Don't brag.
• Don't nag.

Feel free to jump around from heading to heading. Write one item under each and repeat the four items three times if you like. Write them all together in a big jumble if you like. If you feel creative, combine the whole shebang into an easily drawn symbol and put it on post-it notes to stick around the house.

When you've written as much as you want, tuck the paper away and leave it alone. Safely extinguish any candles and go on with your life. Repeat in a week or any time you start to feel shaky. Save your papers to look over in a year. It may amaze you how emotionally powerful they will seem!

Happy quitting and best success to all of us.

~Beth (Nyniane)

Resources to help you launch your quit smoking program:

• After the Last Cigarette
• Your Quit Smoking Toolbox