ZEALOUSZESTYLIVING : 23. Shedding Vices for Zealouszestyliving Part 2

Hello Friends,
A very good day/night to you all. In the previous post on this topic I mentioned the reasons and the futility of embracing vices. Here let us go over the possible ways to overcome vices. Difficult but we have to try because if we fail to try, we try to fail.

9 Tips for Overcoming (Shedding) Vices.

Accept that you have a vice or addiction and resolve to get rid of it (the easiest step).
Jot down all the possible negative outcomes like health deterioration, embarrassment, financial loss, loss of loved ones, loss of mental peace, etc, which you will have to accept if you continue on the same track.
Now just do the opposite, list the gains which will be a part of your life without this addiction. Visualize with a positive mind and enlist the benefits. Even if you think it impossible at this stage no harm in listing it.
Now commit that you will get rid of it and find an excuse for it. We easily find excuses to do wrong things! for once, we can find at least one excuse to do a good thing.
Give yourself a time frame and take the help of family and friends. If you have declared that you will be quitting your vice before and not stuck to it chances are that they may ridicule you. In this case you have to work a bit harder, if you are angry and hurt about the lack of support or ''I don't care'' attitude of friends convert and direct those feelings towards eliminating the vice. Believe me sometimes this works more than encouragement and kind words as we are on our own.
For some people deadline method does not help, in which case do it step by step. If it is drinking or smoking decide that you will have a fixed quantity daily , then reduce the quantity. You may also decide that you will not have drinks or smoke say in the mornings. Stick to it and you will see the difference. This is easier as we know we can have it in the evening. After this move on to reducing what you have in the evening to half and so on till you achieve the desired result.
Get professional help if you feel so. Support groups, institutions are present everywhere. Confide in your family members and convince them that you really want to give up your bad habit so that they will also be by your side when you seek professional help.
Before giving up note when and why you go towards your addictions, is it when you are stressed about work or finance or you just lose control when you sight it e.g. alcohol . Address your problems chances are the vices will remain at bay. Keep away from the situations and things which trigger off your addiction as far as possible.
Audio visual impact is long lasting and can be made to work on you without your knowledge. If a friend is lecturing you about leaving the vices however boring it may sound give a patient hearing, watch things which are conducive to your leaving the vice like this anti smoking video.

Watch this anti smoking video

There was one more film which I used to see years ago and am trying to find it to share. Even if you do not have any vices no harm in sharing public service broadcast messages isn't it? Someone or the other is sure to benefit from seeing it.

So do you have any serious addictions? I hope not ! Having read the above tips try to help any friend or acquaintance who is going through a difficult phase. Thank you for reading this blog do drop a hello. Bye for now until the next post I leave you with this quote.

"Vices are their own punishment."---Aesop