When you decided to quit smoking, what motivated you?
What was your “a-ha” moment, the single thing that finally made you stop, re-focus, and decide once and for all to quit smoking?
It may have had something to do with your children, seeing a loved one suffering from smoking related health issues, or finding yourself going to ridiculous and silly extremes just to get your hands on a cigarette.
For lots of people, the power of the “a-ha” moment is tremendous. It’s sort of like getting an unexpected electric jolt that stops you in your tracks for a moment and creates a feeling like you’ve just hit the reset button on your brain. These are the kinds of moments that come when we least expect it but that also have a huge influence on how we choose to deal with smoking.
The “a-ha” moment is a powerful stop smoking tool and one that you can use to your benefit in many ways. One of the best ways is to sit down with a pen and paper and write down exactly what happened for your “a-ha” moment. Be as descriptive and detailed as possible, capturing the intensity of what you felt and the sudden dawning of new thoughts that came into your head. Once you have everything down on paper, make several copies and put them in places where you can easily access them when your willpower or motivation begins to fade.
Keep a copy in your wallet or purse, as well as in the glove compartment of your car and the drawer in your desk. Put a copy any place where you can grab it and read it the next time you get the urge to smoke. Some people find it helps to keep a copy in the places where they used to keep their cigarettes; that way they end up grabbing the paper instead of cigarettes when old habits kick in.
Why is it so important to keep reminding yourself of your “a-ha” moment? It’s simple, really. Even the most powerful experience will start to fade over time, especially when you find yourself desperately craving a cigarette. At those times when you’re most tempted to give in and have a cigarette, reminding yourself of that powerful moment can be a huge help in getting you past the immediate craving and keeping you on your non-smoking path to success.
