It may be hard to imagine how smoking could be perceived as a gift in any light; but when it comes to being presented with the means of a healthy plan of modifying self-destructive behavioral health issues, core beliefs, and addictive tendencies these tools may never have been presented if smoking had not been a problem.
Funny that phrase, “Problem with smoking;” because the problem actually doesn't lie in the addiction to cigarettes...Addiction is a symptom of a much deeper emotional aversion to life and natural human feelings. Are the feelings associated with nicotine addiction, though, limited only to those who fall prey to its deadly grip?
Absolutely not!
The reality, though, is: Unless you are a human being who has experienced a significant amount of powerlessness in one fashion or another, you may not even be inclined to seek areas in your life that could benefit from self realization and adjustments to your daily state of behavioral health.
The solution for quitting smoking is much like the solution for any other addiction or behavioral disorder. Sure, there are specific habitual behavior modification techniques for smoking that may not serve well in other recovery programs; but the emotional and spiritual sickness that is apparent in an addict can only be combated with emotional and spiritual recovery. If the entire life of recovery were contingent upon a continued 'trading' of addictions, success quitting smoking wouldn't last long.
Since the human condition of self-obsession, fear, and other defects of characters are the root cause of smoking addiction, do you have to be a smoker to benefit from behavioral modification techniques?
No; but you do have to be willing to commit to the same degree of seriousness if you are going to get lasting results from your self-exploration recovery plan. The basic outline of a quest for answers and improvement of behavioral health is simple. Dealing with the feelings that may arise, however, is sometimes a much different story.
If you feel like you have traumatic demons in your past you've never faced, you may be wise to seek the assistance of a trained behavioral therapist, hypnotist, or holistic healer to help you in your soul-searching endeavors. In the absence of professional support, there must be a personal network of trusted friends and family on whom you can rely. Finding the right people (or person) for support in behavioral health modification and recovery can be tricky, though...Remember: You are seeking to find the most relevant answers by uncovering all the intricate details of your past; and you cannot afford to rely on somebody who will judge you for things you've done or any of your other truths that are difficult to accept.
Once you feel you have sufficient support lined up, spend time alone with yourself and a pen and paper; and take your life to inventory. There are two basic start up methods (making columns, and brainstorming) to conducing a thorough inventory, and combining them is best for organization.
Take a few sheets of blank printer paper and lay them out in front of you longways...You will need the room to create 6 headings: Who was involved, what happened, how I felt, what part I played, what I could have done differently, do I owe an amends.
Once you have your headings, just start listing names in the 'who was involved' column as they come into your head. Don't worry about the details of each person, just write names. Try not to judge which names 'belong,' as well; as if they entered your mind they probably should be listed. Don't worry if you didn't get them all; you may think of more as you progress.
After you have recorded all the names, go back and focus on one at a time. In your 'what happened' column try to be as objective as possible. From beginning to end, just write down the events and/or actions that transpired. You don't have to get too detailed. Highlights will work just fine. Remember to not indicate motives or feelings in this column as it is simply fact based.
During your recollection of events you may experience emotions similar to those you felt at the time; and those feelings go in the next column. Be careful for settling on secondary feelings like anger or guilt. Remember that these feelings are generally fueled by something along the lines of perceived or real abandonment, fear, pain, sadness, etc.
The 'my part' column is one of the most important, and it's what is going to help you begin to truly recover if you are painstakingly honest with yourself. Trying hard not to point any fingers or justify behavior, simply write down exactly what you did to cause pain to another human being or to add fuel to a fire that was already burning. This column is not to shame you; rather free you from the shame you've held onto for so many years.
Once you've filled in a few lines, you may begin to see consistencies in your life that date back to one significant moment. It is in this recognition that solid recovery can take place.
In the 'what I could have done differently' column you get to begin to examine contrary actions you can take in the future to practice initiating a different set of circumstances each time you are faced with a similar situation. If your efforts are earnest, though, you may find that you no longer suffer as much from the same cycles by which you were once plagued.
The final column is equally important as – if not more important than – the 'my part' column. It is in this phase that you identify the actions for which you owe an apology, monetary restitution, or a living amends in which you commit to never repeat the same act. Don't fear this column...You are simply writing it down at this point.
You may or may not be in a position to make financial amends, but you can start today with the behavioral health aspect of your recovery by making a conscious effort to practice contrary action. Like any other human being, you will never achieve perfection. If you consistently practice steps toward modification of
behavioral health, your life will become increasingly abundant with true happiness.