I have made a New Year's resolution to quit smoking. I have tried many times before with little success. Why is it so hard to quit smoking? What can I do to really quit the habit this time?

If it were easy to quit smoking, almost everyone would have done it by now and the tobacco companies wouldn't be so filthy rich. There are many reasons why people get hooked on smoking including a physiological addiction to nicotine. If you remember back to the first time you tried smoking a cigarette, you can recall what you body's natural reaction was to this toxic habit. You probably coughed, became nauseated and dizzy and wondered what the big deal was. Unfortunately, social pressures won out over your body's internal wisdom.

The most effective way to quit tobacco is to become totally conscious of the experience. This means, if you are going to smoke, smoke with awareness. When you feel the urge to light up rising within your body, stop doing everything else and focus on the sensation. If possible, go to a quiet place and witness your experience. Observe the desire in your mind and body and watch yourself as you reach for a cigarette in the package. Observe the tactile sensations as you place the cigarette in your mouth, light the match and inhale your first puff. Witness the experience of inhaling the smoke into your lungs and exhale consciously. Wait until the desire for the next puff arises and quit as soon as you feel the urge has been satisfied. Do not do anything else while you are smoking. Do not drive, talk on the phone, watch television, eat, drink or engage in conversation. Practice smoking meditation with your full concentration and awareness.

Most people who practice this process find that they lose their taste for smoking very quickly. At first you may put out the cigarette after smoking only half. Then you may find it distasteful after just a few puffs. Finally, the thought of lighting up will be unpleasant.

To satisfy the oral cravings that cigarettes fulfill, try sucking on aromatic spices. The two best ones for this purpose are whole cloves and cinnamon sticks. Keep some with you at all times and pop a clove in your mouth or suck on a natural cinnamon stick when the urge to smoke arises. A natural licorice stick can be also be used but limit your usage to not more than two per day. Soak some golden raisins in lemon juice and chew on them when you have a smoking urge. Sip some ginger tea during the day to help your body detoxify. Put a teaspoon of grated ginger root into a thermos bottle, add hot water and take a few sips several times per hour.

I strongly recommend that you learn a meditation technique to provide you with a natural relaxation approach. You can simply follow your breath or learn a formal process such as Primordial Sound Meditation or Transcendental Meditation.

With love,
David