Today, we delve into a deeply personal and often misunderstood aspect of life: the ritual of smoking. For, I believe, all smokers, it’s more than just a habit; it’s a tool for self-programming strong habits that are hard to break. We hear a lot from people in the medical field and well meaning friends and family that quitting is best for us.
We roll our eyes and let the advice roll off our backs because we have heard it so often and it really comes across as having absolutely no regard for why we do it in the first place. Not to mention why it is so difficult for us to simply “quit”. It’s the power of the rituals we create around smoking. There is no other single way to meet all the needs that we get from being a smoker.
Let me mention here, right off the bat that I do not encourage anyone to take up smoking. It’s not a physically healthy for you habit and holistically speaking, physical health is just as important as mental and spiritual health. I do however encourage people to create rituals similar to this one because there are real reasons that the habit is so hard to break, and we could all use healthy and productive habits that are hard to break.
The reasons are the rituals. The repetitive actions we do and words we say that establish a program that runs on auto pilot, also called a habit. To break a habit, we have to identify every ritual and replace them with another one, or auto pilot kicks in. Understanding the rituals we perform as smokers can show how powerful building and using rituals is.
The Ritual Unveiled
Packing the Pack: Setting the Stage
For many smokers, packing a pack of cigarettes is more than a mundane task; it’s the first step in a unique ritual. It’s the trigger for the brain to pay attention to what’s about to unfold—a moment of programming, if you will.
Setting a Goal with the Lucky Flip
Flipping a lucky or choosing one at random is like setting a goal. It represents a personal commitment to the something specific on the journey ahead. The chosen cigarette becomes a beacon of something you want to achieve and a reminder that you have the power to set intentions and follow through.
That’s powerful all by itself. Imagine being as committed to something like being a writer as a smoker is to that lucky flipped. It is so powerful that there is an unspoken code among smokers, that you can always bum one from someone and they will gladly share, but you never take a lucky as a matter of respect for what it represents. Their luck.
Many believe that the Lucky Flip is merely a wish, like you would make on a shooting star or a loose eyelash. It is so much more than that because it is a visual symbol that you look at several times a day. Reinforcing the program.
There are very few things in the world that can replace that for a smoker. Take a moment to examine your life and think of just one thing that you look at consistently 15-20 times a day that you could create a ritual that powerful with.
They also believe that everyone wishes for good luck and nothing else. It’s not true. Many, especially during stressful times will set some other intention with their lucky flip. Peace. Clarity. Sanity. Inspiration. New car. New Home. Keep my car or my home. Money. The list is as long and individual as the number of smokers there are.
Whispering Words of Resilience
Taking out a cigarette and whispering or thinking to yourself, “I am ok no matter what comes my way,” is a profound act of self-affirmation. It’s the essence of self-programming—a mantra that you’ve imbued into the very fabric of your daily life. Most these days have been doing it several times a day for decades.
The Power of Each Puff and Exhale
With each puff, you inhale the essence of your affirmation: “I am ok no matter what comes my way.” It’s a moment of self-nurturing, a reminder that you value yourself and your inner peace. Each exhale releases anything that might challenge that peace.
The Complexities of Giving Up the Ritual
The idea of giving up this ritual can be a real challenge, and understandably so. It’s not just about giving up the physical act of smoking; it’s about relinquishing a coping mechanism deeply rooted in your daily life and a method of programming that is almost effortless. It’s about saying goodbye to all the moments of solitude, self-reflection, deep breathing, and respite from the world’s demands too.
As I mentioned previously, there are multiple ritual reinforcements with smoking. It is really hard to find another one thing that replaces them all. Fidget spinners, stress balls, and the like can take care of the need to hold a cigarette, but they don’t replace the other aspects. You don’t have to go outside to use a stress ball. The ability to take a literal break and walk away to go smoke is a major aspect that makes quitting hard. You aren’t forced to take a deep breath and exhale fully playing with a stress ball either. You don’t have anything you look at 20 times a day to remind you that you are working toward something. Everything else I have tried end up fading into the background, getting lost, and causing more frustration than peace.
Balancing Health and Inner Peace
Smokers acknowledge the potential health risks associated with smoking, but they also cherish the moments of inner peace that smoking brings. People don’t like it, but we get to walk away to have a smoke when things are too stressful. When we walk away, we inhale and exhale deeply. We can sit quietly with our thoughts (meditate) in the present moment for a few minutes. Most people will allow you to finish your smoke before expecting you to do something.
Potential isn’t fact. You do not get lung cancer and die from smoking one cigarette (full respect and condolences for anyone that it has happened to, but it doesn’t happen to most). I was told growing up that I would, but I visited my grandparents every summer for years and they were chain smokers, so I knew that wasn’t true. I’m willing to take the risk because I need those moments of inner peace to survive my day to day more than I need to outlive my grandmother who was 80 when she died. She quit smoking at 70.
We fight for those moments. Verbally always, violently sometimes. That is another aspect that people put off as part of the addiction that is true, but there is a valid reason behind it. As a human being, you need those moments to survive. If you have something else that gives you those moments, great! You know you would almost murder someone for trying to prevent you from taking them. That is where the fight comes from. Not from a need for nicotine.
The Value of Self-Reflection and Solitude
It’s important to recognize that your need for moments of peace and self-reflection is valid. While exploring alternatives to smoking is wise, it’s essential to find ways to preserve and nurture these moments in your life, whether through meditation, mindfulness, or other activities that provide similar benefits.
Now that you can see the actions behind the ritual of packing a pack of cigarettes, if you can build rituals with those aspects (setting a goal, reinforcing the goal visually many times a day, every day), they will be strong and automatic habits every day in no time, but they will also be difficult to break.
The Journey Continues
Your journey is a deeply personal one, and the path to inner peace takes many forms. Whether you choose to continue your smoking ritual or seek alternatives, remember that your whole well-being, physical, spiritual, and emotional, is paramount.
In conclusion, the ritual of smoking is more than just a habit; it’s a reflection of your desire for moments of peace and self-affirmation. It’s a testament to your journey toward inner harmony. As you navigate the complexities of this ritual, may you find a balance that allows you to cherish your well-being and the moments of tranquility that matter most to you.
Your journey continues, and with it, the pursuit of both inner peace and a healthy life.
Have you encountered challenges when trying to quit smoking or some other observed rituals that make it difficult for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Share them in the comments below, and let’s continue this conversation together!
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