Weakness, Strong Will and Smoking

"Once we know or own weaknesses they cease to do us any harm."

Georg Lichtenberg

How to do it?

1. Make a list of things you think you are weak at (habits, character traits, etc).

May be it is not very pleasant process at first sight. But it is fun. It may turn out, that your habit is not your weakness at all!

For instance, you have been trying to quit smoking. You blame yourself for the ‘absence of strong will’. And you know that you have a strong will and you are known everywhere for being a ‘strong willed person’.

In reality there is nothing wrong with your will. You apply it successfully in extraordinary situations.

2. Explore positive intentions hiding behind this habit by asking the question:

“How does this habit serve me?”

In case with smoking,

...it may turn out that this process helps you:

• to relax
• to be part of the smoking community, you belong to (ex, friends, co-workers)
• to fill in gaps in communication
• to dissociate from unpleasant situations
• to close your self from foreign influence (some people like to influence others)
• to hide confusion
• to veil your own attitude to somebody you dislike
• to experience pleasure
• to resolve unpleasant situations
• to intensify pleasant experience in a safe mode, i.e. in presence of objects of your personal liking
• etc

You can’t always live in a strong will. It causes physical pain. Smoking adds some entertaining (distracting) experience.

Nobody says it is good for your health, but smokers prefer to think differently. They insist that smoking is something positive they do for themselves.

Explore your ‘weakness’ and find positive intentions behind each ‘feeble’ point.

"Once we know or own weaknesses they cease to do us any harm."

Georg Lichtenberg

Just dare!

La vita e bella…

Natalia Levis-Fox