We take actions to fulfill a need, whether its a conscious or a
sub-conscious one. Maybe you smoke to relax. Find a healthy
alternative that can fulfill the same need. Substitute the feeling of
taking a deep breath for the cigarette. Both may have the same effect
of relaxing you. One kills, the other doesn't.
What kind of resources do you already have which can help you achieve that? One of your greatest resources is you, and your brain. Your brain cannot distinguish between what you see and what you imagine (visualize). Visualize yourself smoke-free, breathing deeply, filling your lungs with fresh air on the top of a mountain you've just hiked because now you can hike. Add sound, color, a motto to this image, whatever it takes to be a power image for you. Imagine someone takes a photo of you looking and feeling that way, and now you that you have in your pocket. When you want to reach for your cigarettes, reach for the photo instead. This is about rehearsing your decision to not smoke anymore.
Whats my first step?
Start small. Go for the smallest step forward if need be. And then give up a little more every day. Do the ritual, but don't smoke the cigarette. For example, maybe day one, each time you smoke, you smoke half a cigarette instead of the either one. And when you put it out, you pull out the mental image of you on the top of a mountain, breathing in crisp mountain-air and feeling great. Maybe by day five, you're down to 5 puffs. Then, you take out your lighter and light up but don't inhale. You're essentially reversing your smoking ritual. Concentrate the effort on getting through the day and let tomorrow take care of itself.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XiCLQFcIuE
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