However, a person who is prone to perceiving world around them as threatening and dangerous (maybe their parents never gave them positive affirmations as a child, or even put them down emotionally) may believe that loss of this job is a relative 'destruction' of their world, their safety, their confidence. This is where illness of depression can dig its sharp teeth in. This is a pretty mellow analogy; in reality some people have gone through hellish childhoods filled with abuse, neglect and addiction. When this type of person then has to deal with loss of a loved one or relationship break-up, you can imagine that they would be much more prone to perceiving experience as deeply negative. Dr. Rowe believes that these constructed structures of perceiving what happens to you can be altered, thus giving rise to a new way of seeing reality. The main idea is based around idea that we must learn to change ways in which we see ourselves.

If we can learn to accept ourselves with all our faults and imperfections, and realize that if we are doing our best to be a loving and giving person everyday, then we can see ourselves as being worthy, and that all is well. Then if someone else treats us badly, ignores us, or says we aren't good enough, we can know and acknowledge that they are person with problem and that we don't necessarily need their affirmation or acceptance. We can then wait for positive people to come into our lives, as like attracts like. Soon enough we will find that there is a group of people that will stand by our side and support us when things get bad because we do same for ourselves and for them.

One of most powerful insights I had from this experience was sheer number of people in room for Dr. Rowe's speech. Each and every one had been or known someone close who had been depressed at one time in their life, thinking that they were completely alone in world. When you see a big group of people together whom have all felt alone, you might just see into true paradox of reality? If everyone who got depressed realized that it is a common occurrence, and connected to others in similar cases, it definitely could be a step towards healing. Could Internet take a leading role in this process?

12. Consult your doctor or pharmacist about nicotine replacement products. While they're not for everyone, they can help and your doctor or pharmacist can advise you on best product for you given your history and pattern of smoking

13. Survey your home, car and workplace for any smoking paraphernalia, such as ashtrays, lighters, cigarettes. Burn them or bin them.

14. Carry a bottle of water with you wherever you go and sip it. Don't underestimate value of this tip!

15. Get a moneybox or jam jar and save money you're not spending on cigarettes. This money is to be spent on you as a reward. Decide what you'd like to do with it.

16. Have your teeth cleaned by your dentist or dental hygienist.

17. Dry clean your clothes.

18. Spring-clean your home and car, getting rid of nicotine stains and odours from windows, carpets, curtains

19. Keep a daily spontaneous journal, writing down not only about cigarettes but also whatever is going on in your mind at time.

20. Take two hours off each week just for you. No jobs. Just fun and pleasure time for you.

21. Do some physical activity every day - about 20 minutes will do.

22. Each lots of fruit and vegetables. Have some to hand if you want to nibble.

23. Don't substitute one bad habit for another - don't start eating chocolates, biscuits etc instead of smoking. (See 22 above!)

24. Believe in yourself

25. Know that, by quitting smoking, you can go on to fulfil any other personal goal bar none.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Joe Armstrong is author of Write Way To Stop Smoking. Buy It At www.BookShaker.com ==> http://www.bookshaker.com/product_info.php?products_id=62 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=