Quit Smoking Why People Do Bad Things (Even When They Know They Shouldn’t)

November 13th 2008

Do you do Bad Things? Even though you know you shouldn’t?

It’s not your fault. It really isn’t. You know you should stop doing it, but no matter how much you know that, and how much you try, you just can’t stop!

Everyone knows how to lose weight. Don’t eat fattening foods. Exercise. Everyone knows how to give up smoking. Don’t light the cigarette. Yet having this knowledge just isn’t enough. Sometimes even having the desire isn’t enough! Time and again I hear about people who get really close to quitting smoking. They can get all the way down to one or two cigarettes a day, but just can’t give up those last two. Many even make it all the way down to zero, but the cravings, oh the cravings! They are wretched, those cravings. Most will go back to smoking within the first few days. They can cut away most of the “stuff” that keeps them glued to the cigarettes, even not be addicted to nicotine anymore(!), but there is just something deep in their core that magnetically pulls them back in, like two lovers who know they are bad for each other but just can’t help themselves.

What is this thing? What is at this core?

Let me take a step back for a moment. How many adults do you know who are happy? I mean really, truly happy? Think that question is foolishness? Let me ask you this. How many people do you know who love their work? I’m talkin’ jump out of bed in the morning, can’t wait to start. Sadly, the percentage is very small. Why is this?

We live in an interesting quick-fix culture. People don’t really have to deal with their issues. We’ve got:

* television
* movies
* shopping
* toys
* and hitting the gym

to distract us and make us feel better. Even more than that, many people’s issues are quite buried. Think of dreams that were squashed when we were young. “An artist? You could never make a living at that! You should be a doctor!” People often forget what their dreams once were.

As a result, I see an awful lot of unhappy, unfulfilled people walking around. They don’t know what is bothering them, they just have that gnawing feeling that there must be more. Advertisers pray on this, selling us more and more bottles and gizmos to give us that ever elusive Happiness.

True inner needs? People either:

* think they’re impossible to fulfill
* are too scared and resigned to fulfill them
* or are so disassociated from those needs that they don’t even know what they would be even if they had to guess!

All those “bad” things — smoking, overeating, gambling, alcohol, the list goes on and on — are easy ways to fill the void. Smokers will be able to relate to this one — if you’ve just had a fight with your family, what do you do? You go for a smoke. Smoking makes it feel like the problem goes away. (I call this the “smokescreen.” Har har!)

I’ll let you in on a little secret–the real reason it’s so hard to quit is not the nicotine. It’s this void-filling. When you quit smoking (or any bad habit), you’re suddenly faced with real life. All those stresses and needs that you’ve been avoiding? There they are, pulling at your coat tails, yelling, “Pay attention to me! Pay attention to me!” If you got in touch with your real inner needs and took baby steps to start fulfilling them, you would actually have little desire for cigarettes. It’s true! I see it happen time and again in my Stop Smoking Coaching practice.

How do you do that, you ask? Here are some baby steps that you can start trying out now:

* Next time, instead of taking that quick fix–stop.
* Have a little quiet time and listen to what your insides have been trying to tell you.
* Try journaling — don’t edit your thoughts, just write.
* Some people find meditation and yoga to be great accesses.
* Try deep breathing.
* Go for a quiet, leisurely walk by yourself.
* Personally, I find it easiest to just start noticing where in life I seem to be avoiding things the most, or if I want something more immediate and active, doing a mindmap (a word drawing) to figure out what I’m really thinking.

For each person, the key to figuring out your needs is different. Play around with it, don’t give up! You’ll be glad you did!

Jill Binder is The Stop Smoking Coach with a 90 day program to show people the 8 steps to quitting smoking forever, with a 100% success rate. She is the author of “What’s Your Smoking Type?” and has appeared on “Daytime” (TV), “Radioactive Women” (Radio), “Good Times” (magazine), and “Metro Toronto Today” (newspaper).

You can sign up for her newsletter, “YourTurn - Turn Your Weaknesses Into Your Perfect Life” at http://www.StopSmokingCoach.ca

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Yoga in Practice Helping Negative People (Part 3)

November 12th 2008

You do not have to lecture, or criticize, to cause a change within a person, but you would be wise to teach him or her by your own example. This is truly stronger than any words. Some people refer to it as, “Walking the talk.” This is because talk is not enough.

Remember the saying, “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime.” You can always give away material, but what is more valuable than knowledge and acquired skills?

Education is the key to building positive attitudes. It allows us to learn Yoga, better our lives, and help others. You cannot help people by simply throwing money at them, and you cannot buy your way into heaven either.

Do not allow yourself to be compromised by negativity. Gently encourage him or her to attend a church, temple, mosque, ashram, or shrine for spiritual support. Praying, chanting, Japa, music, and singing, lift the spirits and make us all feel better. It does not matter which religion you are; the concept is universal.

Forgive offenses, but make it clear when there is an infringement on your rights. You do not have to be a “human pin cushion” in order to help another person. When you elect to help someone, at a time of need, you deserve mutual respect, at the very least. Never “play the fool” because this will not stop negativity.

Negative energy loves fools and wants to make fools of all of us. Sometimes you will have to make a firm stand and draw a line of acceptable behavior. If you always allow yourself to be abused by a negative person, you are feeding a “spoiled child.”

Become a loyal and trusted associate by keeping your integrity intact. When conversations turn negative, “spin them around,” and point out the “silver lining in every dark cloud.” Every “bad situation” can be a valuable lesson, if we choose to learn from it.

Lastly, remember the saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” You cannot help someone who refuses to be helped. Also, know that negative energy is like the ocean; you can possibly save another from drowning, but you cannot afford to drown yourself in the process. If you drown in negative energy, all of the selfless help you could give will be for nothing.

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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How Toxic is Your Bathroom

November 11th 2008

Be warned! Your daily beauty regime could be taking years off of your life. Most (99%) personal care products have not been safety tested. Your health may even be damaged due to the daily mixing of many different types of toxins in and on the body. On average, each of us uses 9 personal care products a day, containing a total of 126 different ingredients. When these chemicals are absorbed into the body, they can be stored in fatty tissue or organs (ie the liver, kidney, reproductive organs and brain). Medical research has proven that fragrances can trigger asthma; the detergents in shampoos can damage eye tissue; and that hair-dye chemicals can cause bladder cancer and lymphoma. If these problems had been linked to pharmaceutical drugs, the products would have been taken off of the market. However, since the cosmetics industry is largely self-governing, products containing potentially harmful substances remain in use and on sale. If you think that it can’t be that bad, then you need to consider what goes into some of the most popular toiletries.

Olay Regenerist claims to instantly improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. But what they don’t tell you is that in order to work, the product needs to be well absorbed, so it uses penetration enhancers which actually drive toxins deeper into your skin. This in turn leads to hormone disruptions, carcinogenic effects and skin irritation.

Clairol Herbal Essences Shampoo For Dry/Damaged Hair claims to provide you with a totally organic experience. But what they don’t tell you is that it also contains 4 potentially cancer-causing dyes, as well as synthetic fragrances that are known neurotoxins and skin irritants. This product can also permanently damage eye tissue, cause breast cancer, and chemicals that also cause the damaging chemicals to penetrate more deeply into skin and bloodstream.

Johnson’s Baby Soft Wash claims to be best for you and your baby. But what it doesn’t tell you is that it also contains skin and eye irritants and hormone disrupters. Since children’s skin is thinner and more absorbent than adults’, it provides a less effective barrier to these chemical toxins. Furthermore, you only get the mere impression of smoothness since there’s nothing in this product that actually smooths your skin.

Calvin Klein’s Eternity, as well as numerous other perfumes, contain the same neurotoxic solvents that are found in glues and adhesives, as well as the same volatile chemicals that are common in garages and factories. Perfumes also contain known neurotoxins, allergens, irritants and/or hormone disrupters.

Colgate Total claims to provide you with 12-hour fresh breath and antibacterial protection. But what it doesn’t tell you is that it also contains irritating detergents which can cause sore gums and mouth ulcers. It also contains abrasives which can erode tooth enamel. There are also carcinogens, and chemicals that can produce chloroform gas, which is easily absorbed into the skin or inhaled and can cause depression, liver problems and cancer.

Gillette Mach 3 Shaving Gel contains skin irritants, 3 potential carcinogens and 3 central nervous system toxins or pollutants.

Clairol Nice ‘N Easy claims to provide natural-looking color with complete grey coverage. But what they don’t tell you is that it can cause allergic reactions and has carcinogenic effects. In fact, intensive longer-term use is associated with breast, ovarian and bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple meyeloma and rheumatoid arthritis.

Clearasil 3-in-1 Deep Cleaning Wash has been clinically proven to help fight acne. But what they don’t tell you is that the product is capable of removing the skin’s natural oils. It also contains 2 potential carcinogens and that it can also consistently lead to skin problems.

Listerine Teeth And Gum Defense claims to kill the germs that cause plaque and bad breath. But what it doesn’t tell you is that it is 21.6% alcohol and thatq alcohol dries and changes the pH of the mouth and throat and long-term use of alcohol-containing mouthwashes increases the risk of mouth and throat cancers. Listerine also contains ingredients that are poisonous if swollen, are known carcinogenics, and can alter the basic flora of the mouth and may cause dermatitis.

Reverend Brenda Hoffman, is ordained by the Universal Life Church, and has been delivering holistic health and wellness advice for over 7 years since receiving a BA in psychology. As a home-based professional and mother of 1, she operates a holistic wellness network. She invites you over to http://www.yourhealthyfamilyhome.com/ to learn how to improve you and your family’s health.

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