By J. Bailey Molineux

Are you one of the majority of smokers who would like to give up cigarettes because you realize they are not good for your health? Have you tried before but failed? Do you feel you lack sufficient will power?
Maybe will power is not what you need.

Will power is a negative idea that implies a struggle to do something you really don't want to do or give up something you really don't want to give up. Hence, no matter how strong your resolve, will power often fails you.

Perhaps what you need in order to give up an unhealthy, undesirable habit like smoking is not will power. If you want to quit smoking more than you want to smoke, you will probably be able to do so with a minimum of discomfort. On the other hand, if you really don't want to give up cigarettes, no matter how serious their threat to your health and those around you, chances are you won't be able to kick the smoking habit.

Let's face it: smoking is pleasurable. It feels good to suck smoke deep into your lungs and exhale it. And nicotine is addictive.

The problem with trying to give up cigarettes is that smoking is immediately pleasurable. By contrast, the negative consequences of smoking - lung or heart disease - come many years later.

What you will need to do, then, if you want to stop smoking, is to convince yourself there are many good reasons for you to quit and few, if any, good reasons for you to continue smoking. Develop your want power, not just your will power.

You want to be able to breath easily and freely rather than experience chest pains or a morning cough.

You want to gain your wind back rather than be out of breath at the slightest exertion.

You want your lungs to become pink and healthy again rather than remain blackened and unhealthy.

You want to live to your normal life span rather than die prematurely of lung or heart disease.

Once you have made the decision to quit smoking there are a number of things you can do to help yourself through the discomfort you will experience during the first days of withdrawal.

Don't quit when you are upset or having serious emotional or interpersonal problems. Smoking probably does provide oral comfort at such times.

Probably the best time to give up cigarettes is at the start of a vacation, new job, new semester or any other change in your life. As a habit, smoking has become strongly associated with certain times, places and situations. A change in these associations, even if only temporary, will weaken your desire to smoke. Since smoking is often a response to stress, whatever you can do to reduce stress in your life will help you to quit. Substituting another response to stress and the accompanying desire to smoke - a relaxation exercise, a walk or calisthenics, as examples - will also help you to quit.

If you're out of shape, you may want to consider starting a regular exercise program as an aid to quitting cigarettes, but please go slowly, gradually and, possibly, under medical supervision. Being short of breath while exercising will probably strengthen your resolve to stop smoking.

Rid your house and office of all reminders of your former habit: ash trays, cigarettes and lighters. There's no sense in needlessly tempting yourself.And it would help if your spouse gives up smoking at the same time you do.

Let people know you have kicked the habit and reward yourself after a certain amount of time without a cigarette.

Quit "cold turkey" rather than gradually, as research has shown that people suffer less from withdrawal pangs when they do so.

Be realistic, however: you will experience some discomfort. Kicking the cigarette habit is not easy.

But it can be done. Millions of Americans have proven this.

About the Author: J. Bailey Molineux, a psychologist with Adult and Child Counseling, has incorporated many of his articles in a book, Loving Isn't Easy, Isbn 1587410419, sold through bookstores everywhere or available directly from Selfhelpbooks.com. Copyright 2002, J. Bailey Molineux and Selfhelpbooks.com, all rights reserved. This article may be reprinted but must include authors copyright and website hyperlinks.