Smoking Cessation – 10 Steps to A ‘Smoke-Free’ You
It’s no secret that cigarette smoking is a deadly habit and that countless people suffer respiratory diseases as well as other ailments because of smoking. Furthermore, smoking also causes bad breath, coughing, and stained teeth – hardly things to impress people.
As such, it’s understandable that many people want to take smoking cessation steps and live healthier lives. Maybe you are one such person and are in the middle of a battle to kick the habit? Maybe you’ve even tried using a stop smoking drug and are wondering if there are other ways to quit smoking Well, look no further.
We’ve complied 10 ways to quit smoking, TEN TIPS that that you can practice as quit smoking aids. True, there’s no easy way to quit smoking but there are many things to do to combat the addiction and you will do well to at least try some, if not all of the following tips.
Smoking Cessation Tip 1 – Decide to Quit.
Wanting to quit is different from actually making a decision to quit. Declare it! Write a potential date for when you are going to quit, remind yourself that you have made up your mind about it. It all starts with a decision. The other ways to quit smoking will then come easier.
Smoking Cessation Tip 2 – Slow Things Down.
Smokers usually whip out their cigarettes the momen tthey feel the urge. The next time you want to smoke, slow yourself down and delay the process. Is there anything you can do instead of lighting up that very instant? Think of other things to engage in and leave your cigarettes alone for a while. This will help quit smoking.
Smoking Cessation Tip 3 – Get Rid of the #$%#$% Stuff!
Once you’ve practiced delaying the urge to light up, we suggest you quit smoking cold turkey. That’s right; just throw your cigarettes away. This will be drastic but it is a must. Get rid of your cigarettes. Throw away your ashtrays. Discard your lighters. This is one of the most important ways to quit smoking.
Smoking Cessation Tip 4 – Shake Things Up.
Rearrange your schedule so that your habits will loosen too. Eat at slightly different times of the day, switch your furniture around, and make your home different to what it was before. The mental effect is that you will acknowledge change, i.e., that things are different and you are no longer tied to the past.
Smoking Cessation Tip 5 – Distract Yourself.
The urge to smoke will still be strong, perhaps even stronger during this period. So whenever you fell like smoking, distract yourself with something – a movie, some gardening, a pet project, a jogging session. Just physically do something that will take your mind off the urge and onto something else.
Smoking Cessation Tip 6 – Carry Cigarette Alternatives.
You might want to arm yourself with candy, chewing gum, or even a toothpick. Whenever the urge to light up strikes, shove some candy into your mouth and start chewing instead of smoking.
Smoking Cessation Tip 7 – Celebrate Your Daily Victories.
If you get through a day without smoking, reward yourself with something – a favorite meal, a trip to the theater, a new book, a visit to the spa. It doesn’t have to be huge, just make sure you acknowledge your efforts with a prize.
Smoking Cessation Tip 8 – Bleach Your Stained Teeth.
Bleach your teeth and rid yourself of the discoloration that comes from smoking. A stained tooth is not nice to look at; imagine if all your teeth are just as ugly? This is another way to affirm your commitment to stop smoking. With tooth whitening, your smile will be better, your breath more fresh, your looks more appealing. Plus, you’ll be conscious of your teeth’s renewed pleasing look, making you think twice of smoking and discoloring them again.
Smoking Cessation Tip 9 – Think Positively.
Don’t think of what you’re denying yourself but focus on all the good things that are happening because you are quitting: better breath, better teeth, and better health. Think about the effects of quitting smoking to your friends and family too!
Smoking Cessation Tip 10 – Don’t Give Up!
It’s common for quitting smokers to lapse again and again back into smoking. If this happens to you, the key is to not give up. Continue with your smoking cessation steps and take stop smoking medication if necessary. You’re not expected to get it right the first time. If you fail and smoke a cigarette, don’t beat yourself up. Try it again. Continue to quit for as long as it takes. Good luck!
Ashley Truitt empowers men and women to increase their Wow Factor through personal development and
image makeovers. Get rid of yellow teeth stains caused by smoking with our wildly popular professional tooth whitening systems at http://www.novawhite.com/t/am6/
7 Anger Management “Cucumber” Techniques To Live By
Expressing your feelings is healthy. However, expressing it in an uncontrollable manner can be dangerous. Here are seven anger management techniques you can do to make sure anger will not take control of you.
Applying these techniques will help you to be “cool as a cucumber”, very calm, and relaxed even in difficult situations
1. Accepting and recognizing the problem – For some, recognizing and accepting that they have anger management issues are difficult. This is probably because they are afraid to receive negative feedbacks from other people or they are too upset that they do not seem to realize that they are indeed angry. Either way, it is very important to initially accept and recognize that you are struggling with anger management so that you will realize what should be done and what are the solutions to prevent the possible effects.
2. Identifying the root and cause of your anger – After you have recognized and accepted that you have anger management issues, the absolute next important thing to do that is to identify why you are angry. This would help you concentrate on specific solutions that would directly solve your problem. Knowing the root and cause of your anger would also let you know how to stay away from things that would set off your anger.
3. Letting go – Many individuals with anger management issues tend to rehash previous things and events that caused them pain and anger. This is dangerous since pain and suffering from the past could easily set off anger even from the simplest things. Make sure you let go, forgive, and then forget the things and the individuals who have hurt you before.
4. Avoid solving the problem, instead, take control – “There is always a solution in every problem, ” This is the saying that keeps people optimistic but at the same time causes people to get frustrated on the things that have happened to them; because you can’t really solve every single problem that comes your way. There are things that is out of your control; so instead of concentrating on the solving the problem, try to realize what are the right ways on how to handle the problem well. This would liberate you from the effects of all your frustrations, including anger.
5. Divert – Anger can cause you and others around you harm. Again, it is all right to express anger but once the expression goes beyond your control, anger becomes bad. What you should do is to divert all your anger into more productive activities. Just remeber that an angry person tends to become stronger as he normally is. Doing something harmless and acceptable is the best way to apply strength.
6. Communicate well – When you are angry, the tendency is for you to lose control of yourself. Once it happens, you might not be aware of every word or every action that come out from you. Exercise on how to communicate well. Alwats keep yourself in control of your situation. Good communication will lead understanding what is really happening. Communicating well would also make you listen to others as well as thinking well, and declaring yourself well on different scenarios where others lose it.
7. Just take it easy – This doesn’t mean that you laugh off your anger, just take it nice and easy. Breathe and try to relax your whole body. Anger management is a matter of choice. In other words, you are the only person responsible if you will get angry or not. Take it nice and easy. It is much easier to think about the consequences from the possible actions you want to do while succumbing to your anger than thinking of what you have done wrong after you have calmed down.
Thinking of life without problems seem to be impossible to imagine. This is because solutions can be applied in all situations of life.
Andrew Chin is a recognized authority on the subject of Anger Management. His web site http://www.SelfImprovementsGuide.com provides a wealth of information on everything about Anger Management
Who Else Wants To Learn More About The Secret?
I am sure all of us have heard from someone or have watched the movie “The Secret”. This movie has taken the world by storm and even Oprah has caught on this buzz and featured it in her show. In the movie, prominent self development gurus like Bob Proctor, Joe Vitale, Esther Hicks are featured. If you have not watched it yet, please do yourself a favor and find a copy to watch it.
So what is all the hype about? The Secret is about the Law of Attraction. This concept is not new. In fact, it has been around for some time starting from Charles Haanel’s Master Key System, Napolean Hill’s Think And Grow Rich and many more.
Law of Attraction states that whatever you think and focus on, you will attract into your life. Sounds simple? I am afraid not. It entails much more than that.
This involves much more than just thinking and focusing. There are many people who tried to use the Law of Attraction that complains that it does not work. Why? This is probably due to the fact that the Law of Attraction can work both ways, in a positive way or a negative way.
It begins with you, your mind and the ability of your mind to control your thoughts and emotions. You must first know and understand how you can control your thoughts. Once you can control your thoughts, you can effectively manage your emotions. For example, if you feel overwhelmed at times, instead of thinking about all the issues at hand, you can shift your thoughts to think if you can resolve all these issues, what are the benefits that it can bring you. However, when you just focus on the issues or problems, the Law of Attraction work too, by bringing more problems to you!
The point is to be able to see beyond the problem, stop thinking about the problem, think of it as an opportunity and focus on its solution instead.
The good news is that after reading this article, you are now aware of the Law of Attraction and how it works. You are one step ahead of the rest of the world!
So stop worrying and focusing on your lack or problems. So instead, channel your focus and thoughts on the what you need by visualizing an image of it. Know and believe that you have the power to change your life and make your life better!
Lesley is passionate about self help topics and writes articles about how to improve yourself. Get a free Bob Procter interview report found at this website : http://www.AbundanceAttracting.com
4 Effective Tips for Self Improvement
The world today is zooming by and we have to find ways to cope with the speed of changes in order not to be left behind.
The world’s population is growing by the minute and the skills that are available via the standard academic channels are replicating at the same rate. Thus, if we want to succeed in this world, we have to engage in any kind of self improvement effort. If we simply go with the flow and not take the initiative to further our personality and skills, chances are, we will not amount to anything, at all.
Just as a book should not be judged by its cover, we wish you read this entire article on self-improvement before actually making a judgement.
Here are four effective tips that might be of interest to you.
Self-improvement tip 1: Enrol yourself in interesting self help and development classes.
If you really want to stand out, you must have a extra to offer, whether to your personal or business life. Several classes on various topics and activities are available nowadays. Choose those that interest you most, or those that are similar to your chosen career.
Self-improvement tip 2: Maximize all your senses
Learn to listen more carefully, see more clearly and feel more deeply. Initially you will be surprised at this tip, because you do use your five senses daily. However, you will be shocked, upon closer scrutiny, how little you use them. If you learn to be more sensitive to the people around you and your surroundings, the better you will be able to handle life’s challenges, whether small or big.
Self-improvement tip 3: Relish your “me” time.
Since a lot of people nowadays focus most of their time and energies on working and making money, “ME” time is probably one of the most precious rewards to yourself. Use your alone time wisely. Reflect on your day, breathe and savour the moment. Try not to waste it on the small stuff and use it to study your life path and see if you are still on the right track. Your alone time is a great time to get yourself back on course.
Self-improvement tip 4: Cherish your relationships.
Man is a social animal, Aristotle (greek philosopher) said. It is inevitable that we socialize. Thus, we must know how to take care of our relationships.
Working hard is great, but, remember, money can’t buy the kind of happiness that is obtained from healthy human relationships.
Many of us are now enrolling in various self help cources, not just for skills development, like communication skills and career skills, physical development, like Yoga and boxercise, but also for personality building, like meditation and public speaking. Some people even choose to join groups of people with the same interests, like dancing or singing, to further theirs while trying to pass the time.
All in all, we are always seeking ways to better ourselves, not just to be able to adapt to the changing times, but also to move ahead. Presently, simply having a university degree will not suffice anymore. You have to have something extra to offer in order for you to excel.
There are many ways you can improve yourself. In fact, there is no single and uniform technique for everyone because we all have unique personalities, lives and aspirations. Decide what works best for you and wait for the rewards to come in. We live in a extremely competitive world. We owe it to ourselves to enjoy what career and personal development can bring.
Andrew Chin is a recognized authority on the subject of Self Improvement. His web site http://www.SelfImprovementsGuide.com provides a wealth of information on everything about Self Improvement. All rights reserved. Articles may be reprinted as long as the content and links remain unchanged.
Low Self-Esteem: Does it Linger?
People with a healthy self-esteem is one who views life in a positive way. Although self-esteem development should generally start from early childhood, it is never too late to fix past mistakes and try to develop this in adulthood. Self esteem is how one views himself, either negatively or positively.
Low self-esteem will prevent you from showing your real potential. Remember, if you have a low self-esteem, you should try, as much as possible, to overcome it as soon as possible. You may never discover what you can do if only you have the confidence.
Self esteem is very important in a one’s life. It determines what an individual would do or how they would perform. Self esteem literally means how a person views himself. A person with very high self-esteem may be very successful in life. Those who have a high self-esteem trust themselves so that they can get the job done. However, not everybody trust themselves and their capabilities. These people have very low self-esteem.
You probably not notice it but low self-esteem will eventually take its toll on you. If you have low self-esteem, you are going to be noticed more easily . If you are not quite sure why, then let the following descriptions shed some light.
Usually, you think of yourself as someone who is quiet and shy for most of the time, sometimes to the point that you think you are the lowest of the low. You do not believe in your raw talents or on the things that you can accomplish, and you just stay quiet even though you know, deep down in your heart of hearts, that you can do it. If these things happen to you, then something in you questions your capability to execute certain tasks because you feel like you lack the confidence to get the job done.
Low self-esteem actually holds and suffocates you. It keeps you from doing something that you can actually do successfully. It also prevents you from doing something great. Low self-esteem must be erased from every person’s mind so that everyone can perform to the best of their abilities.
When you were born, you did not have low self-esteem. It is not innate. It is developed through hardships and trials. Some events may cause you to lose your confidence. These same events are most usually traumatic and it stays inside your head, which is the reason why you tend to lose your self-esteem bit by bit, sometimes, even as a whole.
For example, you getting humiliated in public, or you made a bad decision, in some point of your life, that cost you something that was significant or very precious to you. Another example would be that, something bad happened in your childhood and it made you lose your self-esteem. Basically, every person does not have low self-esteem or high self esteem at birth, but everyone has a self-esteem that is of medial rate, and it is only your experiences that decides whether you will be having a low one or a high one.
Once your self esteem is lost, does that mean that you will never ever going to have high self esteem again? The answer is definitely not. You can actually regain it. If you have a low self esteem because of previous terrible experiences, one way to remove this problem is to face that certain bad experience and turn it into a good one.
You will have to make that bad thing into something that is more productive. In that way, every time you run into that experience, or any other event that is closely related to the aforementioned, what you will take from it is only the good thing and not the bad feeling you got.
You should always keep in mind that you should protect your self esteem. It is important for the people around you, but more important for your own well-being. You must also remember to teach your kids the values and abilities in order for them to be able to conserve their self esteem. You should ingrain in them confidence to face each day with their heads up high, because low self esteem or lack of confidence will decide what kind of a person they will be.
Andrew P. Chin is a recognized authority on the subject of Self Esteem. His web site http://www.selfimprovementsguide.com provides a wealth of information on everything about Self Esteem.