When people come to me to quit smoking at Transformations Coaching and Hypnotherapy I ask them why they want to quit smoking cigarettes. This is a vital question because it is the prime motivator for quitting.True or False Transformations

The usual answers are health, money, children, control, smell and it is anti-social. But is this really the true reason?

There is a lot more under these answers and one needs to get to these to really have an successful outcome. If you look at a lot of the reasons why a person wants to quit cigarettes you will find that the underlying motivation is to feel safe.

Consciously and unconsciously we want to feel safe and no matter how dedicated a smoker you are you still know that it is not safe to smoke cigarettes. you can override this feeling and justify your smoking habit but at the end of the day feeling safe is paramount.

There is a twist to this in the fact that smoking can make you feel safe. You have been doing it for so long now that it is in your comfort zone and breaking out of that can make you feel safe.

It’s a paradox but one that is often resolved by your unconscious mind. Your unconscious mind wants you to be safe but often your smoking habit becomes associated as we have said with safety.

Eventually but not always the unconscious comes to the realisation that smoking is unsafe. When this happens you are ready to quit smoking. This is why you can quit smoking in 60 minutes.

About Steve Gardiner

Stephen Gardiner originates from Rhodesia, (Zimbabwe) then working around the globe before finally settling in Brisbane Australia. As a scientist, Steve always had an interest in human development, especially Mind Plastisicity and how we cope with stress, anxiety and addictive behaviours. Over the past 15 years Steve has assisted many clients to transform their lives by resolving the obstacles holding them back.

Entries by Steve Gardiner