She had been smoking since she was 17 and is now in her mid 50s.

Ann (name changed) had worked really hard during our session to understand the reasons or the secondary gains (where there is more value in having the problem than there is for having a solution) she had for smoking. She said she wanted to become smoke free and healthy. Ann put herself through the wringer and let go of some issues that had been holding her back for a very long time. Yet there was one thing that she was struggling with and that was her willpower.

Ann had convinced herself that due to her advancing years and the amount of time that she had chosen to smoke, that her will power was just not up to the job. We went down a few different avenues looking for solutions but Ann’s willpower was doing a fantastic job of keeping her from taking that last step towards freedom from cigarettes.

Nearing the end of the session I once more directed my questions to talking about Anns first cigarette. This was making Ann giggle as she recalled how long she kept on trying to smoke before she finally succeeded. She was telling me about how sick it made her feel, how it hurt her throat, made her clothes smell, gave her headaches and made her tired. She hated it but was determined to become a smoker.

Just like that we had it! I asked Ann what determined meant. She replied that it was something you are when you really want to achieve something,  kind of like………..having………..willpower!

You see willpower was not Ann’s word. It was a word that others had used to describe what you needed loads of to stop smoking. Once Ann realised that the same determination that she showed to become a smoker all those years ago would be the determination she would use to be a non smoker, she was away on that road to health that she so wanted to be on! It was a very determined lady who decided to change that day!

It was a privilege to go on that journey with Ann and I appreciate her letting me share her story.