and over again...Thanks again
Cathy
--- In lobbyville@yahoogroups.com, "aeisha9149" <aeisha9149@...>
wrote:
>
>
> --- In lobbyville@yahoogroups.com, lobbyville@yahoogroups.com wrote:
> >
> >
> > 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.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 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."
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 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...
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Courage to change the things I can...
> >
> >
> >
> > 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.
> >
> >
> >
> > 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.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 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.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 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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