We all know the stereotype.
The main character in the TV show decides to quit
smoking.
We see him in bad-humor, walking up-and-down the room being
torn apart by some intangible force.
Soon we see him in a mood where he will virtually kill to get a cigarette
– as he jumps up and down tearing his hair out.
Who in their right mind would want to face that kind of agony ?
And what better way could you get to persuade people NOT TO EVEN TRY?
I wonder if it is only a coincidence that many of the early American TV shows
where this MYTH first originated were sponsored by the psychological
departments of the large tobacco companies ?
Enough said.
The Power Of Myth
What is really sad about this myth, though, is not only that TV and Film companies
continue to perpetuate it, but that people who genuinely want to give up are put off
and frightened by these powerful images.
And as a result, put off the day ( if it ever comes at all !) they will quit smoking
in order to avoid this pain – AND IT IS ALL AN ILLUSION.
But because people BELIEVE IT IS TRUE, IT AFFECTS THEM ACCORDINGLY.
A belief may not be true in reality – but if we believe that it IS – then it will
affect us deeply as if it were true.
When The Earth Was Flat……..
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A startling example of this is that for CENTURIES people believed
that the earth was flat…….
And so for centuries, people were afraid to cross the sea where the
sky and the sea met in case they fell off the earth !
Even though, at that time this belief was factually incorrect, the FACT that people
BELIEVED it was TRUE AFFECTED their whole lives in regard to travel.
All their attitudes, feelings and plans about
traveling to different places were colored by this belief.
It took one courageous man to challenge this belief and to show people that
there was no need for fear and terror if they wanted to sail around the world.
Immediately, when people realized this was true their WHOLE attitude to
travel was transformed.
All their fear and apprehension at the prospect of traveling vanished.
Right now, you, too have a false belief and fear that terrible pains and
horrors await you if you quit smoking…..
And because you have believed this for so long, like the travelers of old,
you begin to really feel terribly fearful if you have to quit smoking.
A Story…….
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Imagine you were alive at the time when the world really believed
the earth was flat.
You believe that if you travel too far out to sea you could fall off the
edge into oblivion…..
When, one day, you are asked by the king to sail out to sea to find the
king's lost money. And you are given no choice.
Now it is the night before sailing……………..
How do you think you would be feeling?
Tense ?
Anxious?
In fact, probably pure simple dread, because like everybody else, you
believe that if you sail too far out you might die and never be heard of again.
Then, suddenly next morning, you hear the exciting news that has just
reached your area and you can't believe it.
A Spanish sailor has sailed around the world and discovered that the earth
is round and that sailing is one of the safest forms of travel available!
In one instant, your whole attitude to your journey is transformed, and now
you are full of excitement and joy at the adventure ahead of you.
As a smoker, the old belief that the journey ahead of you will be hard and
terrible is false, but if you continue to follow that old belief, you will feel
the same fear and emotions as the travelers of old.
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KEY IDEA |
The old belief that the journey ahead of you must be hard and terrible is false but if you continue to follow that belief you will experience the same old fear, pain and uncertainty.
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Millions and millions of us have ALREADY made the journey and we have
already made the great discovery:
If you approach the journey in the right way, there is nothing ahead of you
but success, joy and freedom as you reach the land where non-smokers
flourish.
The only thing between you and that reality is a core belief that says that quitting
smoking must be agony and should be avoided.
It's a lie.