Hello everyone! I wanted to discuss something with everyone today. For those that don't know me, I am a clinical hypnotherapist and ex (734 days) smoker. Quitting with the help of a hypnotherapist was one of the things that fascinated me and pushed me to become one myself. Hypnotherapist is not swinging pocket watches, etc. It is evidence-based, safe and effective enough the many insurance companies have begun at least partially covering it.

That said, my work with smoking cessation is based upon my own journey. It is one of the few services that I offer a purpose driven package for; it includes something many programs don't offer: Accountability. Many times, when we slip, it is because we lose sight. We struggle and lose sight; no one is there to hold us accountable. I needed someone to touch base with me, to encourage me and keep me on track when I felt uncertain. Though effective and rapid, hypnotherapy is rarely an instant solution.

Based upon my program, my personal experience and my work, I would like to offer everyone a couple pieces of insight in the hope that someone reads something they've been needing to hear:

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1. Quit for you: And you alone. This is not selfish, at least not unhealthily so. What it means is that your choice must be for you. You cannot force someone to quit, and another person cannot, long term, get you to quit. The desire to stop must, at its core, be your own. Not your wife, your boss or even your kids. You started for you, and you have to stop for you too.

2. Perfection is unrealistic: We all slip. The important thing is that when and is we slip, we recover without shame or guilt and continue forward. One mistake doesn't ruin anything, nor should it lessen your pride in the wonderful thing you are doing.

3. Growth can't be rushed: Many believe we are responsible for our growth, and this isn't actually true. Consider a farmer growing his crops... does he grow them? No. He tends the soil and the earth, feeds his crops and ensures, to the best of his ability, that the crops have ideal conditions to grow. Sometimes outside factors can hard or help those conditions and much like that farmer, you can only tend to your own soil and grow.

4. Why did you start: Understanding why you began smoking is very helpful in the process. Not in terms of the literal event, but rather the association and when. For example, associating cigarettes with acceptance, a loved one, etc... the list really goes on. It's very important to figure out what inside of yourself that you are soothing with this habit so that you don't leave it unchecked and the space open for anything.

You all got this. I have all the faith in each in every one of you that you can do this if you truly want to. With my help, without it or with someone else's... I know you can. I did; I see people free of the habit for the first time so often than I can say that with confidence.