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Health
Quiting Smokes~`
(this article is currently being refined.)
There are various layers of action that has to be consider when one attempts to quit smoking.
Firstly, we need to have a strong enough motive to quit. So let's begin by taking a look at all the motives that has failed to motivate...
Surprisingly, with the high cost of smoking cigarettes these days, the amount of money we can save from quiting doesn't seem to inspire this course of action. Even the doctor's decree that we are suffering from bronchitis and athsma, on top of the warning that the functional damage we are currently suffering will develop into a structural damage of the lungs in a couple of years, even that, just doesn't seem to get through to our smoke infected numbskulls.
I know of many singers whom despite a great passion and commitment to their craft, find this a major roadblock to maintaining a consistent standard of vocalization.
Perhaps, if you're anything like me, the most inspiring time to quit smoking is when we are feeling the pain and congestion in the chest, the constant coughing and the inability to breath easy.
It is a shocking phenomenon that most people are only concerned with taking action when we are in crisis. It is baffling to see that people will continuously return to bad habits as soon as they recover from the its consequences.
It is clear from the above-mentioned human tendency that in order to give up any bad habit we first need to develop a constant awareness of why it is an undesirable habit!
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Personally, my awareness were greatly enhanced when I became associated with a individual who never fail to look and smell totally healthy. My senses were heightened from the pure enjoyment of being around her. I've always been careful with my health, but to feel as vibrant and to be as poised and super clear-headed as someone whose lung is functioning in full capacity... now, wouldn't that be such a buzz! Okay... so, I was also a little vain... I honestly wanted to smell and look as healthy as her too!
From that time onwards, my awareness to stay off cigarettes is triggered just by being within the proximity of each others' company. And I must add that I am very lucky because her presence became a constant in my life.
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Given that one is really bent on quiting smokes we must bear in mind that quiting is a habit like any other that will take an on-going, self-brainwashing session. - such that everytime you think about smoking, replace that thought with another. However, I'm sure you've tried distracting yourself that way b4 but discovered that it's quite impossible because when the urge to smoke arises, the foremost thought on your mind would be exactly that -smoking! If we shut it out, wouldn't that be a form of denial... that delays the process of solving the problem?
Overcoming stress smoking
Overcoming social smoking
so, I'm trying to quit for the 6th time and one day, after dinner my friend goes straight into the normal routine of lighting up a ciggie. i had begun quite accidently thinking, "now, why would anyone want to burn smoke into their lungs." and like how one thing led to another i begun entertaining that simple thought and drifted into it.
I had continue to entertain myself by thinking about the repercussions that smoking has on his lungs and voice and all this time, while i am observing closely how the smoke goes up his nostrils and out his mouth. i noticed how he occassionally squint painfully to get the smoke out of his eyes, and how he reacts subtly trying to hide the irritation of extreme heat burning pass his lips and throat to the lower parts of his lungs where the heat can't even be felt and consequences only be known when the coughing and wheezin one day soon begins.
i was so pre-occupied and amused entertaining these thoughts that b4 i knew it his ciggie was burnt out and i have been too busy and disgusted thinking about not smoking to indulge in social smoking. from then on, i kept repeating those thoughts each time i want to smoke. what, in essence, happens is that i've dealt with my 'smoking' thoughts by channelling it into an alternative perspective... instead of sweeping it under the carpet!!
On top of that, as i continued to imagine and make up stories to distract me from smoking, i begin to stumble upon other thoughts to strengthen my quest to quit smoking.
One of the things i've discover also is that as a performer i am aware that evrybody often role-play in real life. With this idea in mind, i soon begin developing a role-play character in myself who is a non-smoker. So, everytime i want a ciggie, i would bring out this character and fill my thoughts with the development of it's non-smoking idiosyncrasies.
As a serious actor and performer, i had begun playing it so believably as to the point where i believe i have never smoked a ciggarette ever and i simply can't understand why someone would want to burn smoke into their lungs.
However, we all know that brainwash takes a long time to take effect. so do not bag yourself if you fail. Keep developing your non-smoker self. in fact, like in a play, i often let my non-smoking
After say, a few months of researching and developing that character, begin switching roles and allow the non-smoker to be your real self and sometimes play a smoker. soon you'll be in control of when you want to smoke and when you don't.
These are methods that many actors use whether conscious or unconsciously... I merely put them into words... the only ones successful in practising these words are those who has developed strong self discipline. As for those who has spent their time developing other talents in their life, they may need a personal coach to help them habitualise this practice.
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Screen Shot: Project BOBz
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