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April 27, 2005
Personal change
This is something that is written about personal change. Many times, I hear people saying that it is tough to change. Too many things influencing, cannot tahan, mah, what to do, it was always like that.
Ratatatatatata.
Do you know what is the organisation with the most successful personal change management programme? The Alcoholics Anonymous or AA. Talk to them or anybody for that matter who stopped some form of addiction.
You will find quickly find out that change is happening on a minute by minute base and second by second base. Nothing more, nothing less. Change now and keep it up. Simply keep going.
In the beginning, everything is new, because you start a new life. When I stopped smoking, about 11 years back, it was sheer willpower that kept me going. I had to drink my first coffee without a subsequent cigarette. And had to live through the change. I had a first meeting with business people and had to live through the change. I went to a pub for the first time and was surrounded by smokers. The internal urge to pick smoking up again was there and I had to cope with it.
I had a spare cigarette at home - just in case the urge to smoke would become to large to cope with and when I once had a huge fight with my girlfriend, who now is my wife. In between the fight, I had to stop and tell her - "give me a minute. I have to throw away those cigarettes into the toilet. If I don't do this now, I start to smoke." I threw them away and when I came back to continue the fight, well, we had forgotten what we fought about and had to laugh about the situation.
I had strong urge to smoke when my father died, about 6 months after I stopped smoking. This was also tough - but I managed, due to the willpower. I told myself, constantly, that I managed to stop smoking for 6 months, and all would ahve been wasted if I pick up the habit again.
So - what is the conclusion? I am no sure if those Tak Nak Campaigns work, because they don't address the personal circumstances. Change is possible, often painful, and all you need is the real willpower to go through with it - remember, in the end, you start a new life.
Commitment to change minute by minute. All you need is already within you. This goes for anything, from drug addiction to training, to procrastination to ... whatever. Go with it. See the outcome. Feel the change. Change!!!
Does this make sense?
Posted by Andreas at April 27, 2005 04:26 PM
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Comments
I had two filipino friends die of lung cancer this year, both ~59 years old, and both heavy smokers. . . . . . . .
Posted by: susmayrosep at April 30, 2005 09:44 PM
yes, it does make sense but more often than not i find myself eating back on my words and promises to myself. sharings about the power of determination and perseverance always amazes and inspires me but somehow i often find myself on the same old path again not long after. yes, a lot of excuses i give myself...
Posted by: autumnmusic at April 28, 2005 01:53 PM
I ve never picked up the smoking habit but it seems that I can't get away from it. In college I had to share a room with guys who smoked. Whenever we went to parties there would be a layer of smoke up on the ceiling - part of which was ganja smoke, with the end result that even if you didn't smoke it didn't matter. Later I worked in a place where it seemed that almost everyone smoked, even in the office. Now, its slightly better. But all my good friends smoke. Yes, its hard to run away. Even if you don't smoke.
Posted by: Adam at April 27, 2005 04:40 PM