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If you want to really quit smoking, you must first be clear that you are serious about it, and it is not just a passing fancy. In order to test your resolve to quit smoking you should form a small support group that will be there for you when you start to feel weak and find it difficult to stick to your decision. After all, it is not easy to break a habit. You need to be answerable to yourself and others to be able to battle with the so-called nicotine beast, other smokers and your subconscious. They can all be very persuasive threats on the road to quitting. That is why it is absolutely essential to have a solid support group of at least two or three other people. If you can have five, it is even better. If you only have to answer to yourself when an overwhelming urge strikes, that's only one person the nicotine beast has to overcome, but if you have a group, that's a whole other story. So how do you hold yourself accountable to others? Of course, you begin by being accountable to yourself first. For example, if you've been off cigarettes for a week and then the irresistible urge strikes you, and you make hundred and one excuses, you battle with guilt and frustration, and ultimately, you give in because the nicotine beast is very strong and you are only one person. This is the story of many people who break down at this point. But what if you had five loyal soldiers standing between the nicotine demon and you? Ah, now that's a completely new ball game. How to make it work? So, it is very essential that you set up a small support group for yourself either through email, telephone, or a support forum. Let your support group know of your goal to quit smoking and also what you expect from them. You don’t want them to pester you every now and then; make that clear. All you want is that they be there for you when you need help and positive support. You will have weak moments, and it is at that time that you will need their encouragement. But here's the thing. Let's say you are once again at the point of convincing yourself that you need a cigarette. Only this time instead of just coping with your own guilty conscience, you have to call these five people and say to them. "Hello, it's me. I just needed to call you and tell you that I have decided to start smoking again." And that's all you get to say. No more. Then you just have to sit back and listen without getting angry or upset. If you can make it through all five members of your support team and you still think that their advice and support is misguided and your deep down beliefs that you should quit are suddenly wrong, then by all means have that 'one' cigarette. But I warn you now, don't think that you'll just have the one - you won't. It's always, always, always the first one that will get you. The support system works because you have to fight six sane voices against the 'one'. As I say, the more you know about quitting, the more successful you will be. So get all the information you need before you try to quit. It's much easier, believe me. To your success, Darren Warmuth
Article Source: http://www.bodyformind.com/db
Click here for more of Darren's tips on how to quit smoking. You can also see some independent reviews of the best stop smoking programs here. This and other unique content smoking articles are available with free reprint rights.
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