Craving Buster Technique

[Giulia]

(Note:  this piece was first published in a blog by @aztec  back in 2012 called  Craving - EX Community    The original author april_ac was from another site.  Thank you Aztec for bringing it here!)

We interupt todays broadcast..for a test! (TRY THIS!)

Ok...especially you newbies...I want you to REALLY try this.

Don't give me that "AWWW Man!!" It's not a hard test!! More of an "exercise"!

I want you to stop what you are doing right now....and look around the room. Look at everything. Take your time. (Don't read any further until you do that.)

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Now...I want you to look around the room AGAIN...and this time find all of the things that are RED. FOCUS on the things that are RED. REALLY look at them! (Don't read any further until you do that.)

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This time....look around and find all of the things that are BLUE. Again...FOCUS on only the stuff that is Blue. REALLY look at them! (Don't read any further until you do that.)

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Now....look around the room ONE more time. (Don't read any further until you do that.)

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Did the things that were Red and BLUE stand out to you the most?? Probably! Know why? Because THAT is what you were FOCUSING on!

Do ya see where I'm going with this??

WHATEVER you focus on the MOST....is what will be stronger...stand out more....become MORE dominate. JUST LIKE CRAVINGS!! If you FOCUS for too long on the craving...it GETS STRONGER.

So...SHIFT your focus AWAY from the craving!

What do you mean you can't do that....that it's too hard??? You just DID IT in that little mental exercise a minute ago!!! How much were you focusing on smoking while you were looking around the room...focusing on the Red and Blue stuff?? Probably not much...if at ALL!

It DOES work.

While I don't crave cigarettes anymore...I do have other areas of my life where I use that exercise. Sometimes it's needed to RE-focus on the GOOD things I have...when I'm feeling down. It gets my mind AWAY from the "pity party" state.

Make this work for you. It's your quit....It's your life.

And it's worth fighting for!

Thanks for playing along!! You may now go back to your regularly scheduled programs!

[Giulia]

lynetteslater  Hi Lynette!  I assume you mean the "process" of quitting.  There's lots of great material on this site.  The more you know, the better prepared you'll be for the journey ahead.  If you need any help getting around the place, give a holler.  We're all on the same team here.  Chin up and have heart.  Each day builds upon the previous and it all gets easier with time.

[ElTyGuy]

This is such great advice! And it works!

[Betty1]

wonderful...Thank you

[Donco]

I have and still use a similar technique that improves my memory by memorizing everything in a room by starting from right to left until I can nearly recite every color and object. As I was just practicing this craving deflector ( thank you!) I was able to appreciate more deeply the beauty of different colors.

Lol, also the side arms of my brown fabric sofa look like huge chocolate cigars:) some cozy throws will cover those today!

[paul63624]

It really does work and I will keep trying it up to my quit date and there after.

[gmcculloch]

Very helpful

[Deb-EX]

Great FUN post! Adding to my NML arsonial (; 

[cruetf65]

Great tip, makes a lot of sense

[Giulia]

So have you tried it?  Does it work?  

[wdamms]

 Started crocheting.  Amazed how counting those stitches keep your mind active.  But while I'm at work your test works, especially on those long, slow days.  I still finding driving back and forth to work my worse time.   I do okay, but it still wants to cause a lot of stress.  Any suggestions.