I gave up alcohol..
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To be fair my comment wasn't directed at anyone specific - equally you're not saying I am either..
I guess my comment as more that as current studies and sports psychology type data supports in terms of what makes us adhere to a behavioural change is more down to discipline as opposed to motivation.
Which could be the philosophical can of worms for tonights musings
Discipline vs Motivation
Excuses vs Reasons.
I know we can all find ways to not do something - the people who say they want to stop smoking but end up with a bag full of cheap duty free on their way back from a weekend in Espana.
Go for a run - its often harder to actually put the trainers on then actually getting out their run itself.
'Atomic Habits' by James Clear is a good book to pick up if ones mind is open enough to take on board some things.
I think with regards to is Smoking worse than Vaping - unfortunately at the moment we just don't know - Smoking definitely isn't ( spoiler... ) but we have no real longitudinal data for Vaping and its affects over XX years of usage. So I think one will have to bear that in mind and think further upon
I have no experience of hypnosis ( Or maybe I do and I've just been told to not remember....??? ) but I think I would want to look at some sort of definite behavioural change as opposed to trying to reverse titrate by looking for a lesser evil.
Ultimately I guess my comments ( which were not intended to offend anyone) was that we do seem to find a multitude of various reasons over time to not do things and procrastinate , maybe its a Human experience , I guess my comments is more its about holding ourselves directly accountable , skip the middle BS steps that can consume years of " I tried once.... " and JFDI.
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I'm not sure I buy into the 'gradual weening off' process. When we had our first born we decided to stop putting sugar in tea and coffee because we didn't want our child to grow up expecting it - tea took about a month before we didn't miss the sugar; coffee took more like a year before I started enjoying it again. The difference is we had a non-selfish reason; if it was just for our own health I suspect we would have succumbed.
I really should cut down on sugar (but the missus makes such excellent blackcurrant jam) because I'm blood sugar marginal - can I do it, no.
I really should cut down on sugar (but the missus makes such excellent blackcurrant jam) because I'm blood sugar marginal - can I do it, no.
I Appreciate the answer TD.
I guess my question was more related to the philosophical side of things.
To me, an excuse is made by someone not wanting to accept responsibility. Reasons are given by those who are, and are just explaining why. If that makes sense? I think this applies in a court of law as well.
For most people, reaching adulthood, has already imbued habituality. If life progresses along a linear path, habituality is guaranteed. I mean... what's happened to change that progression? It's normally a shock factor, or a good woman/man which forces the curve away from the linear. But it can only ever be a curve, there are no right angles or about turns in long term change. Even comets don't do things suddenly, just slowly... degree of inclination by degree... over time, caused by factors not of themselves (stars/gravitational forces/heat build up and shedding of mass etc)
I'll check that book out though, sounds intriguing.
I think we are thinking along the same sort of lines.
We can look at Nature vs Nuture etc and how one being raised in a certain lifestyle or social demographic or insert XXX reason may make things " harder " to change etc
I guess for me I want people and myself to get from point A to point B as quickly and as guaranteed as possible without going around the shops , distracting themselves , finding they have strayed from the way etc an then go into a cycle of pity , self loathing and then rebuild the energy ( after time ) to maybe start again.
Because Time is the most valuable thing we have - I'm not mentioning that to be pretentious but because I think if we can use basic fundamental philosophy ( I guess thats what it is? ) to bypass all the white noise of distractions we make or find and make us think about why we want to change , what will be involved in making that change, avoiding the fall backs and delays of failing it can only help strengthen ones initial resolve and increase the probability of success.
I think the point about holding oneself accountable is key - as opposed to finding external white noise distractions.
Accountable ownership - Internal decisions = only one person can make those decisions.
I don't know how the human ability is , exercised to be disciplined but I find in todays world we tend to find external excuses easier to find then focus upon the internal ability to take ownership and create and maintain change of self.
Just musing.
Probably been listening to too much Stoicism.
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I did some CBT once where the challenge put to me was to imagine a person I admire and would want to be, write down what qualities I like about that person which makes me admire them, write down some daily behaviours or actions I could take which would demonstrate those qualities in my own sphere of influence, and then start acting like that person. You are what you act like, it's no good believing yourself to be a certain type of person if your actions and the way you interact with the world does not align with that.
Well done. I'm sure the sugar cravings will lessen. I found that when I've cut sugar, it's not long before I don't miss it anymore.
Packed in the cigarettes earlier this year. It's been a very positive experience. Always good to give the old will power a bit of a test.
Well done. I think will power is just like anything else in that you get better at it the more you use it.
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