Spirituality Malaysia : Habits Can Be Replaced

Habits Can Be Replaced
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Shamala Tan on 26 November, 2008 01:47:00
 
I remember as a smoker, one of my favourite things I used to do was to have a
cup of coffee and a smoke after a meal. I think all smokers can relate to this.
There is a sense of comfort and relaxation that one gets from this.
Of course, on hindsight I realised that this is a false sense of comfort.
This false sense of comfort puts one in a comfort zone and is the perfect excuse
for those who wants to continue to be a victim of this bad habit. It also
provides a false sense of security that 'if it feels good, it cannot be that bad
for you'!
Once when I decided to quit smoking, one of the silliest thing I did was
continue to go to smoky places like pubs and discos because I was still drinking
(the pubs/discos in Singapore then were not smoke free yet). The temptation to
pick up a cigarette was just so strong that I actually held a cigarette the
whole night without lighting up. I would every now and then just sniff at the
cigarette. I realised that I was addicted to the act and habit of smoking rather
than being addicted to the nicotine. Of course, my conviction to quit smoking
didn't last - it was just too easy to go back into my comfort zone.
I tried this same method countless times hoping to quit but only reaching out
for one more puff and then 2 more and before I know it, it was 1-2 packs a day
again.
Obviously, I was doing all the wrong things.
On my last try to quit, these were what I finally did right:
1. stop buying cigarettes
2. stop hanging out with people who smoke (cigarettes or other 'smokable' stuff)
3. stop hanging out at places where smoking is allowed
4. exercise
It was hard at first to isolate myself but I spent a lot of time watching movies
at home. BUT I was still drinking. (One of the tell tale signs of an alcoholic -
drinking a lot alone)
Eventually it worked. The longer I went without cigarettes, the easier it got,
the more aware I was of how clogged up my lungs were. It was a big victory in
many ways.
© 2008 Shamala Tan