The other fellow’s mistakes are a weak alibi for your own.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” 

It’s easy when you are part of a group to “go along to get along,” but when you are able to maintain your own highest standards of integrity — regardless of what others may do — you are destined for greatness. When you have developed a carefully thought-out code of personal conduct, you will never have to ask anyone else what the appropriate course of action should be. You will intuitively know.

So this little tid-bit of a morsel popped into my in-box from The Napoleon Hill Foundation and I immediately recognized it as a token of wisdom for those of you still caught in the net of how to kick the habit.  

Especially when all your friends still smoke and have very little interest in you taking the steps necessary to prolong your life.  So stand up and stand out.  If you need help with wrapping your head around the idea of never smoking again, get a copy of my book and in there you will find the secret to understanding exactly how to think in order to finally stop once and for all!

How To Thrive in Traffic Not Just Survive

How To Thrive in Traffic Not Just Survive

For those of who are particularly fond of smoking and driving, here's a few tips and trick to help keep that in check!

How To Stop Cigarette Cravings

How To Stop Cigarette Cravings

In this most recent Hub, David Bradley, author of How To Stop Smoking Without Killing Anyone, examines three powerful and effective techniques to handle cigarette craving anytime and anywhere.

Give it a look over and feel free to comment on the Hub itself.  Always appreciate the feedback!

Andy Whitfield dies of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: We say farewell to a warrior

Andy Whitfield, who is best known for his role in Spartacus:  Blood & Sand, passed away on Sunday September 11, 2011.  He was just 39 years old.


No, to the best of my knowledge Andy was not a smoker!  Let's just get that part straight and out in the open now.

The reason we're here though paying tribute to him and saying farewell is to make sure we do not allow another casualty of the war on cancer (I refuse to consider this man a victim) to be in vain.

The Los Angeles Times posted an interesting article about Andy and Lymphoma.  Jeannine Stein writes:  


"Lifestyle factors may influence non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a 2010 study in the journal Cancer found. People with the disease who also drank alcohol, were obese or smoked before they were diagnosed had generally worse survival rates compared with patients without those habits. Patients who had 20 or more years of smoking under their belt had a 76% higher risk of death compared with those who never smoked. And people who were obese had a 32% higher risk of death compared with those of normal weight."

So it's important to recognize here (actually vital) that smoking does not limit your cancer risk to only the obvious or what I like to call, the big three.  Lung cancer (Nat King Cole), throat cancer (Humphry Bogart) and emphysema (Dean Martin) are just the tip of the smoking related cancers iceberg.

Smoking puts you at risk for multiple cancers due to the stress you put on your immune system.  Patrick Swayze admitted that smoking probably "had something to do with" the development of his disease, pancreatic cancer.  Photos taken of a gaunt Swayze in the months before his death showed him continuing to smoke...  so take note smokers, your risk factors increase exponentially with every puff.

Now back to Andy.  We say good by to a warrior.  Not simply because he played Spartacus, but because he fought to the end.  May his fight inspire us to live each day to it's fullest, honor our bodies and cherish each moment we are given.  

While researching his story, I stumbled upon a statement from his wife, Vashti Whitfield which sums it up perfectly.

"On a beautiful sunny Sydney spring morning, surrounded by his family, in the arms of his loving wife, our beautiful young warrior Andy Whitfield lost his 18-month battle with lymphoma cancer. He passed peacefully surrounded by love. Thank you to all his fans whose love and support have help carry him to this point. He will be remembered as the inspiring, courageous and gentle man, father and husband he was."

Rest well mighty Andy, rest well.

I AGREE with Philip Morris Int'l CEO: Tobacco not hard to quit!

"Tobacco's not hard to quit!"  This fantastic relief of information came straight from the gullet of Philip Morris International CEO, Louis Camilleri. 

And...

I AGREE!

(keep reading, it'll be worth it)

Here's the whole quote for the record:

"We take our responsibility very seriously, and I don't think we get enough recognition for the efforts we make to ensure that there is effective worldwide regulation of a product that is harmful and that is addictive. Nevertheless, whilst it is addictive, it is not that hard to quit. ... There are more previous smokers in America today than current smokers."


Now the initial instinct is to use some vulgar words and references to connect his I.Q. with specific parts of his anatomy.  But, clearly a man who got paid over 32 million in 2008, speaks 4 languages and runs a company as big as Phillip Morris International is not a dumb ass.  So, why would he say a terrible thing like that?

Because he's absolutely, 100% correct.  It is not hard to quit smoking.

WHAT?!?!?!!  What an irresponsible thing to say!  How can you say that?  Don't you know there's people out there that have conquered heroin but still can't quit smoking?  What is wrong with you?

I'll tell you what's "wrong" with me and it's all semantics.

There is one very easy way to quit smoking that is not that hard at all.  Let's look at that easy method of quitting right now...

Death.  

This is the simplest method of smoking cessation.  What's especially nice about this method is that there are several options on how to die available to you.  Lung Cancer, Emphysema, Heart Disease, Esophageal Cancer, and the list goes on and on.

If you do not wish to quit smoking using the death method, regardless of how effective it is, there are several additional methods available to you and they are not nearly as effective as death but put forth a good effort.

The reality though and get ready for it because it's a harsh reality to say the least.

DEATH IS THE ONLY REAL METHOD TO QUIT SMOKING!

If you smoke, you're a smoker.  Period.  And you will be a smoker for the rest of your life.  Quitting is not an option because our good buddy, Mr. Camilleri has made it so by altering, spiking, and manipulating the great plant that this country was built on in such a way that for folks like you and I, it's impossible to quit...  unless you die.

Hopeless, yet?

Far from it.  And also the principle key point behind my book, How To Stop Smoking Without Killing Anyone.

You have a wonderful opportunity as a smoker, to embrace who you are fully and be that unique expression of infinity.  Shout it out to the whole world, "I'm a smoker damn it and I'm proud of it!"

Once you're clear with your identity and acknowledge who you really are you can then actually do the impossible.  

 

Which in this case is to....

Not quit necessarily, but...?

That's right!  

STOP SMOKING.  Don't quit?  What's the difference?  

You can't, you won't, it's not going to happen.  

Remember, people are knocking off heroin before they can quit cigarettes.  Mr. Camilleri has done what is necessary to protect the interest of his company and the shareholders by making a product that despite warning labels, huge taxation and blatant, clear cut evidence that this crap will kill you slowly but surely, you still go out and purchase and use anyway.

How do you quit that?  You don't.  Besides, look at all the good stuff it does and goes well with.  You can't quit.  Once a smoker, always a smoker.  

But you can stop!  You stop every time you put one out!  Then you choose to start back up again.  Time and time again.  And for what reason?  

Outside of having a death wish, is there a good reason to light up again?  I mean, like a really good reason?  A lady told me she's not quitting because she's afraid of getting fat.    She's concerned about what quitting will do for her metabolism.  I told her about another weight loss drug on the market that will shed pounds like a chainsaw to a tree...  chemotherapy is a phenomenal way to loos those unwanted pounds!

Get the point?

Look, nobody wants to quit smoking.  So, I say, rather tongue in cheek, don't!  Just stop.  Don't quit.  Either way, the next question is usually a resounding, "HOW?"  

That's where I come in.  You make a $15.89 investment in your health and the rest of your life and I will guide you on a path that for those who chose to walk it, stop smoking and stay stopped with a 100% success rate.

All this for a crummy sales pitch?  Sorry folks.  Look, I stopped in 2002.  Haven't wavered since.  Wobbled a few times, but have not had a cigarette since 2002.  What was my secret?  There wasn't one.  It's decide to stop.  Commit to it and ride it out.  I still think of myself as a smoker because I...  well, read the book, damnit!  

Bottom line, Big Tobacco doesn't have to have a hold on you.  You choose that.  Their job is to make it easy for you to choose that and even want to choose that.  They're very good at that.  Now all you have to do is show them otherwise...

What Are You Waiting For?

"Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.

For an achiever, perhaps the most dangerous, most destructive habit of all is procrastination, for it robs you of your initiative. When you put things off once, it's easier to put them off again, until the habit is so firmly ingrained that it cannot be easily broken. Sadly, the effects of the habit of procrastination are also cumulative. Its cure is obvious -- action. You'll be surprised how quickly you begin to feel better about yourself and your situation when you get going on something-anything. As British prime minister and author Benjamin Disraeli said, "Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action."  

Once again, Napoleon Hill tells it like it is...

 

Stop Smoking with Self Discipline

Self Discipline.  How does self discipline apply to not smoking anymore?

Sounds like a stupid question, doesn't it?  Especially since my book, How To Stop Smoking Without Killing Anyone, is a recipe for how to successfully stop smoking cold turkey.

Well, I wanted to dissect the word and look at it fully under the mental microscope if you will.



Self: 

• a person or thing referred to with respect to complete individuality: one's own self. 
• a person's nature, character, etc.: his better self. 
• personal interest. 
• Philosophy.  a.  the ego; that which knows, remembers, desires, suffers, etc., as contrasted with that known, remembered, etc.  b.  the uniting principle, as a soul, underlying all subjective experience.

Discipline:

• Origin:
  1175–1225; Middle English  < Anglo-French  < Latin disciplīna  instruction, tuition, equivalent to discipul ( us ) 
  • Root word disciple

OK, so what do we have so far?

When you look at the word "self," it is safe to assume that self is, in addition to you, it is also a reflection of who you are and it is also who you believe you are.

Now the word discipline, comes from the word "disciple."  This is an important thing to recognize here because discipline is so often thought of in terms of punishment.  When you look at a dictionary, you'll see words for discipline like:  behavior, order, regimen, and conduct.  These connotations can all have negative undertones.  Discipline usually falls under the category of "I've done something wrong and need to be punished."  Have you ever heard someone say, "I need more discipline in my life."What are they really saying about themselves?

This is where we've been conditioned to look with a word like that.  But what else does discipline mean?

• activity 
• exercise
• improvement of skill 
• training
• a branch of instruction or learning

So when you think about it like that, what is a disciple?  Who has disciples?  Who comes to mind right away?  Jesus, right?  He had 12 disciples.  Meaning these guys followed his teachings and more importantly lived by his teachings.  The key point though is that they were first and foremost, students.

Other people since have had disciples.  Gandhi, for example had/had disciples.  The Dali Lama has disciples.  Bruce Lee has disciples.

What about you?

You need at least one disciple.  You.  You need to be your own disciple.  You should be a student of you.  That is the essence of your humanity.  Self awareness is such a key component to being a human being.  Look at a dog or a cat for example.  They behave as a dog or cat would but lack the ability to truly see themselves through their own eyes.  Have you aver seen a dog ponder their own existence?  In between licking his butt and chasing a car have you ever seen a dog stop and recognize, "I think, therefor I am."  Not going to happen.

The ability to become a disciple of our self is one of the great mysteries that separates from the rest of the animal kingdom.

"KNOW THYSELF"

It appears the Greeks are still debating who's getting credit for this but if I had to pick one personally, I'd like to give it to Socrates.  If for no other reason then I am a fan of Dan Millman.

So for those looking to stop smoking or break any habit, self-discipline is a vital element in achieving the goals you are laying forth.  Since this is a book on how to stop smoking, let's stay on this example.

Let's also stay on the idea that self discipline is more about being a student of yourself then the idea that you need to "discipline" yourself for smoking.

This is what you'll find through out my book.  An opportunity to know yourself well enough to recognize that in your decision to not smoke you will not have to give up any part of who you are.  Deciding to stop smoking is an evolutionary step in your own path of self awareness, self discovery and self actualization.  All synonyms of self discipline.

KNOW THYSELF.

Another good one, this time from Bill.  Shakespeare, that is.

TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE.

Do you see the value in knowing yourself well enough to recognize that the habit (smoking in this case) is merely a reflection or an extension of yourself and not actually you?  Now this doesn't mean you get to get away with saying, "But that's not me."  That is irresponsible.  What I am suggesting here is that in order to stop smoking once and for all, you must recognize that the behavior is a reflection (symptom) of your self image and not your actual self.

Once you have a handle on that concept, you then can truly see yourself.  Then you can see yourself not smoking too.  And then once you have that picture in your mind, of you not smoking, you can now wade into the waters of being a smoker who doesn't smoke.  Taking that one day at a time.  Understand you were you before you started smoking and will still be you after you stop.


Yes, there will be a great debate in your body and mind as they have all been tricked into believing that smoking is a part of who you are.  But with real self discipline, you can press on.  I saw an interesting quote while researching this blog and I find it an appropriate way to end this today...  are you ready?  Here you go:

SUFFER THE PAIN OF DISCIPLINE OR SUFFER THE PAIN OF REGRET.