When we tackle any change or challenge, I think that our attitude serves as a very important tool as well as a predictor of goal achievement. We may not be able to choose or control certain things, but our attitude is something over which we always have a choice. I encourage you to use this ATTITUDE checklist as a tool to help with goal achievement, especially in your efforts to become and remain tobacco-free.

• Accident

  Success is no accident. Success leaves clues. It is the result of consistent and logical patterns of action. (Anthony Robbins) When becoming tobacco-free, be sure to look for things you did right, things you did effectively with previous quit attempts or with any other change or goals. You can then apply those same tools and strategies to your current goal.

• Think Positively

  Becoming tobacco-free is the start of something, not the end of something. Put a positive spin on the process. What will you gain? What are the benefits? What will be better? (As opposed to what are you losing, what are you giving up?)

• Today

  Today is a brand new day. Yesterday really did end last night. (Zig Ziglar) If it helps, especially in a relapse situation, today, your next 24 hours, can start right now!

• I Believe

  Your beliefs about yourself and smoking will affect your ability to become tobacco-free. You MUST believe that you can become tobacco-free. Your belief will influence your actions and decisions. This positive belief will give continual positive messages to you, your thoughts, your brain, your self and your soul…that you can and will achieve your goal.

• Time

  The only promise that can be made is that if you stay committed to your tobacco recovery program, you will, over time, become free from tobacco. Don’t give up. Recovery is a process, not an event. It takes time. Keep at it until it happens. Don’t give up before the miracle!

• You

  What do you get when you give up? ( ) You get nothing! As noted above, keep at it. Keep learning from each step, each success, each relapse, each mistake and each experience.

• Decision

  When the ultimate goal is a tough one, a strategy that I think is really cool is what I call The Reverse Plan. Imagine that you have already successfully achieved your goal and then work backwards to figure out how you got there. Ask yourself what you did, as the final step, just before you reached your goal. And what was the step just before that? And the step just before that? And what about the step before that one…until you arrive at where you are at now…….today. You will then have a roadmap on taking things step by step to achieve your goal.

• Eternal Wisdom

  What is the difference between Illness and Wellness? Illness begins with "I". Wellness begins with "We". They are otherwise the same. We don't have to do this alone. Illness (addiction) is an "I" thing. Wellness (recovery) is a "We" thing. Get support from family, friends or professionals.

I hope that this ATTITUDE tool will be a helpful and useful tool for your journey to tobacco freedom…….or any other changes you wish to make in your life.

Until next time, this is Cory the Counselor from the Chicago area signing off, wishing you well on your journey, and reminding you to keep at it......you are worth it!

Cory Kalat is a counselor and hypnotherapist serving adult clients in the Chicago area for the past 20 years. She serves clients wanting help on a variety of issues. Her number one specialty is helping clients to quit smoking and stay stopped. For more info, contact Cory at 630.263.8888 or crkalat@aol.com

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