Sunday June 1, 2008 The Star

Create the will to quit

By JULIAN A. LEICESTER

This is the first in a series of seven articles on creating the will to stop smoking.

FOR the last seven years, it has been my quest to discover how you can eliminate the smoking habit. I would like to introduce my seven-step “Cigarette Slayer” method as another way to help smokers quit. I hope you will learn some of these techniques as a step forward to beat this revolting habit.

I have conducted many clinical and public stop-smoking seminars over the years and the steps are kept simple with the only sole objective of positioning a smoker to a free will for change.

So if you are ready and committed to decide to quit, then let’s first start with understanding how to achieve clarity and get started.

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The first step is to be clear and understand your smoking habit. - AP photo

Step one: Get clarity – understand the smoking habit

Consider this fact: To quit smoking, you need to address the mechanics of the mental addiction in this revolting habit.

Please note that the cigarette is not your focus at all to quit! The cigarette is only dried leaves wrapped in paper! How can it be so sophisticated to control and keep you in the habit?

Using anti-smoking products may help, but it not necessarily means that your smoking habit will disappear forever. Smoking is a product of the mind. Get clarity about this fact now.

The centre of your smoking habit is the interdependency of how your mind creates meaning and value to your cigarettes. It is an intricate interplay of your conscious and subconscious mind in enforcement and constant reinforcement of your habit.

How do those dried leaves wrapped in paper come be your remote control and can get you to puff even when you know the health risks? Don’t you feel strange about that fact? How could we be so derailed into believing that pleasure can come from puffing dried leaves?

It is quite hilarious when we consider it in the light of such thinking.

What you must do now

Focus is like the light of an electric torch in your hand. Point it at your cigarette habit and it will stay illuminated. Point the torch elsewhere and your cigarette habit remains in the dark.

Focus is that beam in your mindset that forms your inner torch.

This focus is the conditioned thought, your wish to hold. It is only where you focus most that your mind and actions will expand the most. It’s time to shift your internal torch compass and focus elsewhere.

Focus on your commitment for health. Be crystal clear about this. Everyone can make a decision about something, but not everyone can make a powerful committed decision fuelled with incisive action.

Design your health destiny. Decide and commit now! You must focus on your quit results. You know that results never lie. Get clarity that it’s your lungs that is being contaminated by burning dried leaves wrapped in paper. Take charge and be the cigarette slayer now.

Julian A Leicester, is the designer of the ‘Cigarette Slayer’ quit smoking method. He has conducted clinical workshops and public seminars with good results.

The above steps have been kept simple. The steps are the original patented work values of stop-smoking specialist, Julian A. Leicester. Julian’s life goals are to help every smoker in this planet learn the will to quit smoking. His seminars and one-to-one sessions empower smokers to quit without a drug or product. For further information, e-mail starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader’s own medical care. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.