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May/June 2007 Alternative Health
Quitting Smoking through Goal Setting, Will Power and Surrender

by Philip Shapiro

In the pursuit of any spiritual goal, we need a strong will, the humility to surrender and the wisdom to know the difference. Many problems require both will and surrender. We can work on a problem with our will, while accepting it as long as it remains. Wisdom is making the distinction between problems that require our will, surrender or both.

Will Power

Will has two elements, free will and will power. Free will is our ability to choose. It determines our direction. Will power is the degree of intensity and passion given to our choices. Our will shapes every moment of our lives, as we are always making choices in our thoughts, values, attitudes, desires, emotions and actions.

Will is enormously important on every step of the spiritual path. It is involved in determining if we choose a spiritual life, which path we choose, and how much time, energy and devotion we invest on that path.

The more work we do, the better our results. Will and thought help us eliminate bad habits, get through barriers, change, heal, grow, cultivate spiritual qualities and never give up.

Surrender

Surrender is acceptance of painful conditions of our current reality. Surrender is the opposite of resisting, running or hiding. It means going through whatever comes our way in order to find our personal brand of knowledge, power, courage, humility, endurance and wisdom. When we learn how to do the inner work called surrender, we can discover for ourselves that when we inspect our pain, it reveals the lessons we need to learn.

Goal Setting: Quitting Smoking

This exercise demonstrates how to use will, thought and action to accomplish any goal on the spiritual path.

Goal: Pick a realistic, attainable goal. Choose a goal that is good for you, others and the world. For example, Joe wants to quit smoking.

Thought: Thoughts are very powerful, whether negative or positive. Keep your thoughts positive in the direction of your goal. Negative thoughts will only delay your progress. Joe makes up his mind and begins using the following affirmations: "I can change. With will and thought, I cultivate strength and peace. I am busy doing my part because God helps those who help themselves."

Will: Use the full force of your will to accomplish your goal. Gather all your strength, might and determination until your intent is unbending. Set your mind to absolute victory. Joe knows his cigarette habit is very powerful so he will need the full force of his will. He starts working with these affirmations: "I have the will to change. I use the full power of my will to transform negative to positive thoughts."

Action: With a positive mind aimed at your target and your will at full throttle, perform all your actions in the direction of your goal. With his mind set at success, Joe conducts all of his activities in accord with his goal. His intent is unbending. He refuses to smoke.

Tests: Expect many tests. Tests come in the form of difficulties, barriers and obstacles. Exercise your will and thought power against this resistance. Cigarettes are everywhere. When Joe sees other people smoking, he wants to retreat to his bad habit but resists the craving by using the following affirmations: "I use any obstacle to stimulate me towards greater effort and therefore greater achievement. The craving for cigarettes tries to throw me off balance but my inner strength keeps me steady. When I resist the craving, it disappears, like a wave in the ocean, only to be replaced by strength and peace."

Persistence: Do not allow any negative influence to weaken the developing power of your will. Refuse to lose. Never give up. Joe knows his battle against cigarettes is long-term. A friend offered him a cigarette at a wedding celebration. He relapsed and gave in but quickly picked himself up, using the following affirmation: "No matter how many times I fall down, I pick myself up and struggle again towards my goal."

Success: When you follow the steps outlined above, your thought and will power increase and you accomplish your goals. Joe experienced difficulties and setbacks on his way to success, but because of his persistence, he gave up smoking and no longer craves it. By exercising his will and affirmations, he replaced his smoking habit with peace of mind and strength. He affirms, "I am victorious. I am successful. I am calm and strong."

Confidence: Confidence grows when you succeed. Because of his success, Joe is more confident in himself. He is especially buoyant as he has discovered the scientific method of healing through affirmation and will. By simply learning how to think correctly, he knows how to expand his healing power, positive energy and will. He affirms, "I meet everybody and every circumstance with courage."

Goals: Set a new goal. Over time, you can pursue the goals that are more complex and difficult to achieve. However, with too many goals, you scatter your energy. Do not leave something half done to start a new goal. To avoid this problem, devote all your will power to mastering one goal at a time. Joe sets new goals as he realizes he can use his newfound positive energy to benefit himself, others and the world. He affirms, "I am a strong willed person who can accomplish much good in this world. No matter what challenge comes my way, I remain positive and live constructively."

Clearly, will is important on the spiritual path as it helps us change, heal, grow, eliminate bad habits, move through barriers, accomplish goals, cultivate spiritual qualities and serve the world. When we have applied all of our will, thought and action to a painful problem and the problem remains, we can invoke will's partner, surrender by affirming: "I have done all I can. Now I expand my love."

Dr. Philip Shapiro, author of Healing Power: Ten Steps to Pain Management and Spiritual Evolution, is a psychiatrist and director of the Northwest Institute for Healing Power. Visit www.philipshapiro.com.