2009 New Year's Resolution: Kick Your Smoking Habit

A patch of dry tongue... a throat almost parched... a rampant, fowl odor residing almost permanently on the finger tips... symptoms of a chronic smoker... a social outcast.

For the longest time, I've been in the grasp of this nasty habit so believe you me when I tell you, I know of the sweet delights of nicotine... the almost royal sensation that pulsates within you when you strike that match... the soul quenching effect of that first drag. Millions of drags later I stand at a place where I can define, in one word, the true dependence on this habit... Baloney!

I hopped on to the smoking band wagon as easily as the next guy but what makes my story unique is the fact that I hopped off just as easily... there was no struggle, no misery... infact it was ridiculously easy and this is the thought process that led me through it.

It was about the same time last year that I was fondly blackening my lungs wondering what my new year's resolution should be when a funny thought occurred to me. What is a New Year's resolution and why do we have it? The reason is quite simply this that all of us a allotted only a limited number of years on this planet and a new year's resolution is quite simply another tool that we use to quantify what we did in our life time. I lost weight in '05... I was nicer to all people in '06 and I made it up to everyone I hurt in '07... so on and so forth. The point being that we strive to become better human beings with each year that passes and quitting smoking, I assure you will make you a healthier and in a few respects a more sound person. Here are five ways to kick the butt.

The strongest weapon that you have in your arsenal right now is your force of will. It has been clinically proven that smoking unlike a few other addictions is purely psychological. If you can will you way over it, you will and that's that!

For those of you who feel that they cannot do it on their own, there are others in their lives that I know for a fact would willingly help them out. Constantly remember the effect that your habit has on your family, your friends, relatives and kids. Kids are often the most powerful tool... you'd do anything for them and don't deny it. If however, you have no children, think of the closest person to your heart (a non smoker for heaven's sake) and think of what you are doing to him or her each time you smoke. Draw from them the strength that you so erroneously feel you don't already have.

Economics. A tool unexplainable to most and yet understood by all. Allocate a daily budget for this habit... a budget that you will not exceed. As far as possible, never purchase the entire packet. Buy your cigarettes loose. If this is not possible, avoid keeping the packet on your person. Leave it on your coffee table or in your desk drawer.

If force of will won't help you, then habitually and psychologically divert yourself from it. Each time you feel the need to smoke, chew a piece of gum instead. It must be kept in mind that as mentioned earlier, smoking is purely a psychological addiction so the it can logically be broken by finding a psychological substitute. Gum, candy, even a brisk walk around the apartment or office... substitution is highly effective and not just in the case of smoking.

And if all else fails the fifth way is the final fall back position. Medication. Contact your physician and he can prescribe drugs that will make your body repel nicotine. The solution can be found allopathically, ayurvedically and even in homeopathy. My prayer is that it will not come to the fifth stage for you. That you will find the solution in your will itself.

I hope this article has brought you the will to better your life this year. Now if you'd excuse me, I have to go light up... my fire place that is!!!