>
>
> The Serenity Prayer for Nicotine Users
>
> "God, grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the
difference."
>
> * Selected from text written by Reinhold Neibuhr - 1926
>
>
>
> God, grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change...
>
> As nicotine users, we cannot change our craving for nicotine, but even
if we can't change the craving for nicotine, we can accept it. The truth
is that until we can accept our craving for nicotine, we will not stop
the repetitive behavior. Using some form of a nicotine delivery system
is what we will do if we decide we cannot accept the craving.
>
>
>
>
> It's that simple. If, for example, you are a cigarette smoker and
you will not accept the craving, then you will surely light a cigarette.
Or maybe you will have "one puff" or "one pinch" if you
chew to get you through, but even one puff or one pinch is not accepting
the things that you cannot change.
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>
>
>
> Accepting the craving does not mean we want the craving or like it.
Accepting it means, first, recognizing the craving for what it is: a
strong desire, physical and psychological, not a real need, for
nicotine. That's all. We do not fight the craving; rather we look at
it, letting it be, not getting panic stricken or feeling sorry for
ourselves, but saying, "Yes, I really am craving nicotine right
now."
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>
>
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> We do not practice self-deception and try to trick ourselves into
thinking we don't want nicotine. This is an honest program. Nor do
we try to hate the "habit" (or ourselves) so much that we quit.
While we are actively using we cannot make our bodies stop craving
nicotine, but we can live with a craving until it passes, and so we pray
for...
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>
>
>
> Courage to change the things I can...
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>
>
> The thing that we can change is our unwillingness to live, even for a
short time, with the craving for nicotine. We can, with God's help
and the support of the group, change our old way of dealing with
craving, and deal with it in a new way: We become willing to live with
the craving; we no longer use nicotine to get rid of the pain of
craving. If we light a cigarette to relieve the craving, this shows we
have not accepted what we cannot change and have not acted with the
courage to change the things we can.
>
>
>
> Of course, living with the craving is hard, sometimes very hard, but
you are not alone. With the help of a Higher Power you can do it. That
is what the Serenity Prayer is all about.
>
>
> So we ask God to help us accept the craving, and then we ask God to
give us the courage not to take care of this craving - as we have always
done - by using nicotine once more. Thus, we need the serenity to accept
the craving, and the courage to just let it pass...
>
>
> And wisdom to know the difference.
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>
>
> The wisdom we ask for here is to become aware of the difference
between our old way of handling the discomfort of craving in the past
(for example, by compulsively lighting up) and the new way of dealing
with cravings: accepting the craving until it passes, uncomfortable
though we may be for a few moments, understanding that a craving will
pass whether we use nicotine or not.
>
>
>
>
> The strength and courage to live as former nicotine users with this
initial discomfort does come if we ask for it, even though it may take
time. What we receive is not raw will power, but a Power that comes from
our Higher Power, from the group, and from our innermost self. The power
we actually want is love! It is only with this kind of power that we can
become ex-nicotine users and receive a new life free from nicotine
addiction.
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>
>
>
> The reason we did not become ex-nicotine users years ago is that we
chose not to live with the craving. Every time we craved, we gave in and
used nicotine. We kept hoping that in some magic way a day would arrive
when the craving would disappear or we would find an absolutely painless
way to stop being addicted. That day never came. Each of us kept
repeating our favorite rationalizations or excuses for using tobacco,
our own justifications for not living with the craving. And we kept
craving and using, craving and using, year after year.
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>
>
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> But now we can change all that. The moment we can accept what is
-"I want nicotine" - and face it with the courage God gives us,
we can say, "I choose not to handle this craving by using
nicotine," then we become ex-nicotine users!
>
>
>
>
> If you continue to use nicotine even though you say this prayer, then
say it again, and again, and keep saying it while you reflect what it
means to you, a nicotine addict. Eventually it will work. It will not
work if you are not sincere, but if all you can do at first is to say
the prayer without believing it, then at least do that! Some time may be
needed for you to receive the power to live with the discomfort that
comes from craving, but eventually it will come. In time, the craving
will diminish greatly, and someday, we trust, it will disappear
altogether. However, if you have a slip, and for example, you are a
smoker and light one up, accept yourself reverently and say the prayer
again the next time!
>
>
>
>
> Remember, it is not really the stress, frustration or even the craving
that causes us to keep using nicotine again, but rather our lack of
serenity and courage to deal with the craving. Help comes from your
Higher Power, from the group, and from your own healthy inner self! May
God be with you now!
>
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