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 Joel |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive |
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04/07/02 07:08 |
It's amazing how many people do the exact opposite of this when it comes to life in general and smoking cessation in particular. If you dwell on the
positive side of not smoking you will stay forever resolute to never take another puff!
Joel
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mirigirl (silver) |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #1 | ||
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04/07/02 07:25 |
ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEGATIVE - BUT DWELL ON THE POSITIVE love this - thank you Joel - yet again - this saying has helped me so many times - wish I knew how to make it into a bumper sticker!!:-)) yqs mirigirl Three months, one week, 1 hour, 35 minutes and 2 seconds free and healing 2426 cigarettes not smoked, saving $873.97. Life saved: 1 week, 1 day, 10 hours, 10 minutes. |
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wcsdancer (Gold) |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #2 | ||
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04/07/02 08:39 |
Joel, I thought about this a while and the thing is...I can't think of any negatives related to quitting smoking?
The way your life improves without smoking is overwhelming. EVERYTHING is better. I can't imagine relapse because I wouldn't want to give up all
the great things I've added to my life becoming smoke free. It has improved my relationships, my health (in hundreds of ways), my self esteem, my bank
account, my appearance, and my future. Who would want to give up all of that?!? Certainly not me
 !
Forever grateful,
*Candy*
4 Months 4 Weeks 1 Day 13 Hours 42 Minutes 17 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 1794. Money saved: $403.84.
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Joel |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #3 | ||
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04/07/02 08:50 |
Hello Candy:
People still get occasional thoughts for cigarettes after they quit. The first few days people are having actual physical side effects. The first few weeks
people are having awkward moments of not knowing how to start an activity or how to finish an activity or how to move on to a new activity without smoking.
These can all be real effects and considered "negative" by the person.
But when contrasted by the overwhelming majority of positive reations from quitting, these negatives pale in comparrison. I just don't want people to
think that it is easy for a person like you to stay off because all you feel is good when at the time they may still feel some sadness or remorse. They too
can stay off and likely feel better overall if they follow the advise here of acknowledging the negative and dwell on the positive. If they do this over time
the negatives will eventually almost cease to exist and the positives will continue to accumulate and they will stay on this path as long as they know to
never take another puff!
Joel
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Roger (Gold) |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #4 | ||
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04/07/02 09:38 |
Good Post Joel,
This is so true in life. I have always been a positive person throughout my life except when it came to beating my addiction for so many years. I spent my
entire life trying to convince my children this one principle.
If The Mind Can Conceive It
Then Believe It,
YOU CAN ACHIEVE IT.
Where would we be as a society today if so many of our reasearchers, doctors, inventors and visionaries believed they could not conquer disease or land a man
on the moon. I hate to think all of the what ifs.
It took me over 35 years to believe in myself enough to quit. Better late than never I guess.
Roger
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wcsdancer (Gold) |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #5 | ||
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04/07/02 09:51 |
Joel, now I see exactly what you mean. I must say that it wasn't easy to quit or to go through the first couple of months. And I do still have intermitent challenges. But the cravings, triggers, and urges, have proven to me the seriousness of this addiction. My gratitude for overcoming this horrible addiction overrrides any of the negatives tugging at me. I do face them, examine them, conquer them, and then remind myself that they occur due to healing. The hardest moments also brought me the greatest sense of accomplishment when I worked through them. I've gotten use to seeing the "negatives" as positives....proof of healing and reasons to stay free of nicotine. I'm always grateful when a newbie admits their pain and struggles. It reminds those of us with more comfort where we came from and where we are to return if taking just one puff. I hope all new quitters will realize that it really doesn't take very long to start collecting the enormous benefits of a nicotine free life. And my wish for us all is that we hang on to this freedom for dear life. Thanks for throwing us the life rafts! *Candy* |
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improud (golder) |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #6 | ||
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04/08/02 04:42 |
Joel i wish I could be as positive in other areas of my life as I am about this quit and never taking another puff.
Cathy ~ GOLD CLUB |
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SweetLorraine (Gold) |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #7 | ||
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04/08/02 07:17 |
Hi Joel, Love the post acknowledge the negative but dwell on the positive - attitude does make a huge difference.
I can attest that I quit for all the wrong reasons, but I was determined to suceed and sought information to help me
quit for as long as necessary then I planned to go back to "enjoying" myself smoking.
With that attitude quitting wasn't all that much fun. Slight understatement - but once free of nicotine and able to absorb small
amounts of education and brand new sets of ah hahs began happening .
 I'd never considered myself a nicotine addict but I saw my future in the isolation of the widowed smoker and I loathed the image. Who wants
to acknowledge that they are as appealing as a dirty ashtray? But essentially that is what I had done to my body. Once free of nicotine I was able to
evaluate my own addiction a bit more realistically.
Looking at smoking without the smoke screen there's no rational reason to ever take a single puff. Having achieved that insight -
pitefully obvious to a sane person but a completely incomprehensible notion to an actively using addict - then the question becomes not should I quit or how
can I stay quit but how to I make this the best possible experience? I look for all the good things about quitting I emphasize the benefits and minimize the
negatives - what negatives? There really aren't any drawbacks to quitting - it's a classic win-win move.
Thanks for taking the time to educate all of us.
yqf Lorraine
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LA 1 |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #8 | ||
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04/08/02 09:50 |
Joel,
How very much I appreciate your knowledge and insight regarding the power and intricacies of this addiction. I love the
title of this "post" and all that it stands for...thankfully, you are not advocating the unrealistic "rose-coloured glasses" technique.
Rather, you are encouraging each of us to acknowledge the challenges, and focus on the "good" that lies on the other side of them. The power of
having made it through to the other side of our challenges (whatever they may be) is indescribable. Challenge...grow. I think that's a life
theme.
I continue to be very grateful for your understanding of the quit process. Earlier in this thread you
stated,
Exactly! I'm feeling pretty good today...but I know this process/challenge of learning how to live as a non-smoker
will continue to take some time. It's great to know you are out there guiding us along!
Laura
Two weeks, two days, 1 hour, 17 minutes and 30 seconds. 321 cigarettes not smoked, saving $115.58. Life saved: 1 day, 2 hours, 45 minutes.
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Tatum (Bronze) |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #9 | ||
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07/26/02 08:56 |
Important concept to keep in mind, especially for the newbies who are generally working through what can
seem like MAJOR negative times in the early days of their quits.
One thing I've noticed though, and I hope this is comforting news to the newbies (by the way, am I
still considered a newbie at nearly 3 months ? LOL I don't FEEL like one!) is that applying the above concept seems to get easier and easier as time goes
on..that is to say that I notice particularly more and more positives, practically every single day there's another reason I hadn't thought of before
to be totally psyched that I was able to accomplish quitting smoking.
Newbies...have faith and hold on tight to your quits. Because even in the beginning you can look at each
crave as a sign that your bodies healing...and that's exactly what it is. Each crave you've conquered is just another sign to your body that you
aren't going to put up with the BS of nicotine anymore...and little by little you work your way to total comfort.
Being smoke-free REALLY does ROCK !!!
Brightest Blessings,
Tatum
Been kicking Nicodemons Butt to the Curb For 2 Months 3 Weeks 6 Days 2 Hours . Cigarettes not smoked: 2643. Money saved:
$330.41.
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Geo (Gold) |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #10 | ||
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08/29/02 03:33 |
Hello,
One thing that helped me to dwell on the positive through the hardest times is my quit meter. That little row of numbers at
the bottom of my screen. I watched those numbers tick by, every one of them a major accomplishment! One hour, one day, one more week gone by without a
cigarette and getting always easier. It is amazing how fast the numbers go by. They helped me to focus on what I was getting instead of what I was giving up.
The quit meter is a great tool I highly recommend it.
I once wrote a list of the pro's and con's of smoking. The only pro I could think of was that it fed my
addiction!
Staying positive is the way to go! Thanks again Joel.
Geo
One year, eleven months, four days!
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GoldenPeachyPie |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #11 | ||
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12/17/02 02:31 |
You couldn't do a more positive thing for yourself.
Personally, it hasn't been easy, but the solid focus, and educational tools here at Freedom have made me so
much stronger, and that attitude is affecting my whole life for the better. As far as I am concerned, there are NO negatives about quitting
smoking.......only TEMPORARY discomfort.
I want to thank Joel, and all here at freedom, for helping me to gain MY freedom.
Peach X
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John (Gold) |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #12 | ||
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01/07/03 06:38 |
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michaela Bronze |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #13 | ||
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02/20/03 02:41 |
I guess my double green victory post can go here as well:
Hi everyone,
2 month...it has been 2 month since I have quit :). A bumpy road locking back, many tears and mood swings...but clean lungs, no more ashtray breath
and no more evenings in the garage. No more whistle sounds from my hurting lungs when I lay in bed...no more guilt feelings to myself and the abuse I put
my body through. Yes many times the addict in me wanted to go back...there were inner struggles...times I thought perhaps I should do it "later"
when I am stronger. But I am here today...2 month smoke free...happy every time I see an ad on TV about things that help you quit smoking...because I
already did it:)
I feel free !!!
Michaela:)
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Shinelady Gold3282003 |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #14 | ||
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05/14/03 05:17 |
Thanks Joel,
I like to embrace the positive attitude, as well. If we could learn to smile instead of mourn , every time we crave
a cigarette, we will find the job gets easier and easier. Personally, I am learning to do just as you say "acknowledge the negative and dwell on the
positive".
I'm learning to love my life. Thanks Joel and everyone who make "Freedom" a great place to be. I come
here to dwell on the positive effects this journey will have on my life.
sue
One month, two weeks, one day, 14 hours, 43 minutes and 30 seconds. 1864 cigarettes not smoked, saving $269.18. Life saved: 6 days, 11 hours, 20 minutes.
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Toast (GOLD ) |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #15 | ||
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05/20/03 04:14 |
"Regardless of whether the next few minutes
are the most comfortable yet or
in the end prove to have been
the most challenging of your entire recovery,
they are 100% doable!"
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OBob Gold |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #16 | ||
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06/20/03 01:23 |
Negative: Head's fuzzy, I didn't sleep well last night, and I've had several strong cravings today.
Acknowledged.
Positive: This is the temporary healing that comes with the wonderful decision I finally made. There's comfort in my future, I don't stink, and this
gift I'm giving myself is going to contribute to my health and longevity. Despite some discomfort today, I haven't been forced to take my hourly
poisons, and what an enormous accomplishment that is after 20 years of slavery.
 And, it's only going to get better!
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Gr8fulGirl Silver |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #17 | ||
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06/20/03 01:29 |
 Thank you for this one today OBob!
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wagongirl |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #18 | ||
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06/20/03 02:11 |
This is really good advice!! It's so simple and yet so easy to forget. Great reminder...
Negative: last night I went through craving after craving, and questioned my strength.
Positive: I made it through all of that!!
 Today was much better. I actually had someone tell me I smelled good! I
can't remember the last time that happened! Usually, I smell like cigarettes, but not anymore. My breathing is getting better and I'm not constantly
feeling guilty about having just smoked a cigarette! I can focus on other things, like arriving to school on time instead of taking every last minute to fit
a cigarette in before some event.
Kimberly
I have been free from nicotine for 6 Days 9 Hours 15 Minutes 45 Seconds.
Last Edited By: FreedomNicotine 03/19/09 09:29.
Edited 1 time.
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GrumpyOMrsS (Gold) |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #19 | ||
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09/30/04 06:46 |
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Shinelady Gold3282003 |
Acknowledge the negative--but dwell on the positive | #20 | ||
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11/24/04 05:44 |
 a favorite of
mine. This thought helped me to get where I am today in my quit. It's a short , simple thought that is easy to grasp , but says it all. Put it together
with never take another puff and you have a win win situation. 
sue
One year, seven months, three weeks, five days, 15 hours, 50 minutes and 23 seconds. 24266 cigarettes not smoked, saving $3,506.25. Life saved: 12 weeks, 6
hours, 10 minutes.
Last Edited By: FreedomNicotine 03/19/09 09:37.
Edited 1 time.
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