Stoppin' By

[Guest guest]

Dear Group,

I'm looking for some ideas/suggestions to consider on the topic of

becoming willing to quit smoking and/or quitting smoking. Anything is

worth considering, so please feel free to say anything that you think

may work, however crazy it may seem. Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Never smoked and there is a strong physical addiction as well as the

habit. Knowing you it will be uncomfortable phycially seems

important. Beimg mindfull of the physical feelings you have while you

are smoking, the pleasure, the taste, the smell and what it is doing to

your heart and vessels seems helpful. But the bottom line in ACT for

me is examining my values and making choices with my hands my feet and

my mouth that move me closer to what I value. How much do you value

being a nonsmoker?

>

> Dear Group,

>

> I'm looking for some ideas/suggestions to consider on the topic of

> becoming willing to quit smoking and/or quitting smoking. Anything is

> worth considering, so please feel free to say anything that you think

> may work, however crazy it may seem. Thanks.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

There is an ACT trainer, here in Australia, by

the name of Graham , who used to have a very successful business helping

people quit smoking. Basically he would teach them to smoke mindfully: to

really notice the smell, and the taste, and the sensations in their lungs and

throat and eyes and nose etc. The vast majority of smokers would find that when

they were really mindful of what they were doing, it was actually very

unpleasant. I’ve tried this with a few of my clients, and find it really

aids the motivation and commitment to quit.

Another thing: we say in ACT (playfully),

‘Never set a dead person’s goal’. A dead person’s goal

is something a dead person can achieve better than you. Not smoking is a dead

person’s goal: a dead person can obviously achieve this better than you

can - a corpse will not smoke, ever again, 100% guaranteed.

In contrast, a live person’s goal

is something a live person can do better than a corpse. To convert your dead

person’s goal (of not smoking) to a live person’s goal, ask what

can you do INSTEAD of smoking, that takes your life in a meaningful direction? When

urges to smoke show up, do this new action instead of smoking. Some of my

clients have chosen actions such as deep breathing, stretching, drinking a

glass of water, going for a walk, doing, or simply engaging fully in whatever

activity you are doing when the urge to smoke arises. (of course it’s important

to these new behaviours mindfully, with full acceptance of the urges showing up

– as opposed to doing them as a way of distracting yourself from those

urges).

Hope this helps,

Cheers,

Russ

Dr

PO Box 5079

Alphington, Vic 3078

Tel 0425 782 055

www.actmindfully.com.au

From:

ACT_for_the_Public [mailto:ACT_for_the_Public ] On Behalf Of

Sent: Monday, 3 March 2008 3:29 AM

To:

ACT_for_the_Public

Subject: Re:

Stoppin' By

Never smoked and there is a strong physical addiction

as well as the

habit. Knowing you it will be uncomfortable phycially seems

important. Beimg mindfull of the physical feelings you have while you

are smoking, the pleasure, the taste, the smell and what it is doing to

your heart and vessels seems helpful. But the bottom line in ACT for

me is examining my values and making choices with my hands my feet and

my mouth that move me closer to what I value. How much do you value

being a nonsmoker?

>

> Dear Group,

>

> I'm looking for some ideas/suggestions to consider on the topic of

> becoming willing to quit smoking and/or quitting smoking. Anything is

> worth considering, so please feel free to say anything that you think

> may work, however crazy it may seem. Thanks.

>

>

>