Oh so many things I would tell myself. "Get over it." "You CAN do this." "Attitude Stupid." "Buck up." "Think of it as a challenge. What am I SUPPOSED TO LEARN FROM THIS MISERABLE EXPERIENCE!" "I WILL NOT give in." "La la la la la!" 'JUST GO AWAY!!" I said that a lot to my nicodemon. JUST GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME ALONE! Some say you should't personalize it as a separate entity or "demon." It worked for me to do so. I think of it as the lesser of myself (or worst of myself) fighting against that Best of myself. That Best of me knows what's good for me. And knows what I should do to make that happen. The worst of me is the weaker part, the desperately needy part, the part that has no self-discipline. The worst of me chooses the easy way out. The Best of me knows that it's the easy way out but that ultimately sticking with a commitment produces the results I actually want. And that Best of me knows that if I DO stick to my commitments, I'll feel better about myself, be more empowered and happier ultimately.
These days, after almost a 15 year quit I tell myself - "yeah yeah, been there, done that, don't like the craving hope it goes away soon and I know it will but what a pain in the butt until it does." But at this point there is no way I am going to smoke. Because I really REALLY don't want to go back to where I was. I mean seriously. When I have a craving now it's just such a pain in the butt. I'm no longer surprised by them but they're just an annoyance. There is no serious thought of putting a cigarette in my mouth. I may like the smell but... the cost (on so many levels) of putting a cigarette in my mouth at this point is - out of the realm of logical, sane thinking for me. So what do you do? You take it as given that you're just going to have a craving now and again and put up with it and get over it.
