The "Mental" side to smoking

So, this is Day #26 for me and not smoking!  The first thing you will want to do is buy this book. (Under $10 at Amazon).  A friend gave it to me and you can read it while your still smoking.  It will talk about all of your excuses and how if you use willpower alone, you are setting yourself up for failure.  It will also spend a lot of time talking about becoming FREE.  As in free from nicotine.  (As well as talking about the fact that you will also find financial freedom which is not a bad thing!)

I was at a pack and a half a day until my mom got sick.  Then I went to two packs a day. 

This means that your ENTIRE day revolves around a cigarette.  When will you run out?  When will you need to go to the store?  Do you have enough money for your cigarettes?  Do they have a smoking area?  How long until you get a smoke break?  Can you smoke in their car?  The last cigarette for the evening….and then the cycle starts over.

In reality, it only takes 3 days to break your nicotine addiction.  After that, it is all mental.  The number one rule is IT IS NOT OKAY TO HAVE JUST ONE!  Why?  Because it is an addiction!  The same as an alcoholic cannot just “Have one” drink.

So lets talk about the excuses:

I enjoy smoking.  No you don’t.  No one likes standing out in the weather to have a cigarette.  After a few hours without one, they taste like crap and they stink!  No one enjoys spending his or her money on cigarettes.

I would quit but I’m scared I will gain weight.  (By the way, I think this is the WORST excuse ever.)  So this means as a smoker, you are currently at your “Ideal” weight and would not change a thing.  (Didn’t think so!)

I will quit when I loose weight.  If you haven’t done so by now, you’re not going to and your kidding yourself.

It is the only bad habit that I have.  Okay.  Wouldn’t you rather have a “Good” habit?

I am too stressed out right now.  In reality smoking does not “Calm” your nerves, you have brainwashed yourself into thinking it does.  In actuality it raises your blood pressure.

I will quit right after….  Obviously you will not, lol.

In all honesty I have quit twice before.  Once with Chantix, it was okay, but I still had the “Urge” for a cigarette.  Then I quit on the gum, and it was the same way the urge was still there.

This time I have quit on the patch.  (Doing the steps!)  For the “Mental” of what to do with my hands, I have an electric cigarette.  (Careful, several of them have nicotine, get the one that has blanks, or you will overdose with the patch!)  The electric cigarette, takes the pressure off when I’m driving or join my friends in the smoking area.  Oh yeah, get rid of EVERYTHING!  Cigarette case, lighters, and ashtrays!  (Remaining butts too, no dumpster diving!)  The patch REALLY takes the edge off, I can tell the very hour it runs out.  Yes, you are getting a small release of nicotine (Starting with 21mg, then 14mg, then 7mg, then nothing.)  But you are not getting anything else associated with smoking. 

The do not’s:

DO NOT stay away from smokers!  You need to learn to deal with it.  Smoke your electric cigarette, and when you find you would like to have one, or think you miss the smell, remind yourself YOU ARE FREE, they are not.

DO NOT think you can only have one.

DO NOT use willpower alone.  When you have the urge, set back and actually THINK about the excuses above.  Count how long you have been without one.  First the hours and then the days!

DO NOT let people bother you.  If they pick on you and offer you one, remember THEY are the addicts, NOT you.

Now onto what I have noticed in 26 days:

My energy level is through the roof!  (Started around Day 5).  This is turn had me start a new workout program.  (So yes, I am smoke free AND loosing weight!)  I sleep better.  I can take a deep breath like I never could before.  I am starting to notice the smell of smoke on everything.  And it felt really great to fill out the forms at the dentist office as a non-smoker!

So what are you waiting on?  Set your quit date and stick with it!  Some thought my quit date was “Too soon” after my Mother’s death.  Some thought I would change the date because I was on vacation when it hit.  Bottom line, once the date was set, I stuck with it!

So when is your date????

February 2013 "Rants and Raves"

I am happy to report that I am actually writing this blog from the state of Georgia.  I have spent the past week working from the Tennessee/Georgia line and have had a blast!  A change of scenery is just what I needed!
I am back up to a normal schedule for psychic readings and Reiki.  I will slowly begin to catch up with CVAPI and Central VA Psychic Development & Paranormal Research. I am REALLY excited to see that spring will hit March 20th!
We are currently under mercury retrograde and this one seems to be hitting pretty hard.  It is normal to feel emotional or full of anxiety at this time.  I have seen a lot of this going around this week.
New for the month of March and April, it looks like I will be able to offer live in person readings to some in the Virginia Beach area, Chesapeake VA, Williamsburg VA and a couple of towns in North Carolina.  If you are in those areas, please send me an email at Jackie@ms-swami.com as the schedule is now underway.
I am playing catch up on emails and some things that I have put off in the last few weeks.  If time permits I hope to be able to host another open house soon.
Thank you all for your condolences and your patience, while I get my office back on track.  HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!  Until next time...

Horoscopes for March 2013

http://www.examiner.com/article/jackie-s-horoscopes-for-march-2013?cid=db_articleshttp://www.examiner.com/article/jackie-s-horoscopes-for-march-2013?cid=db_articles

Back to a normal schedule

As of today, (Thursday evening), and throughout the weekend, my schedule will remain on sporadic hours.  I will be up to a normal schedule for psychic readings on Monday, February 25th.  Upcoming in late March, I plan to hold a Meetup with Central Virginia Psychic Development & Paranormal Research, as well as CVAPI will pick up with investigation requests in the month of March. Reiki students, you are still on schedule.  Thank you for your patience!

Random Availability...

It is with a heavy heart that I announce that my Mom lost her battle with breast cancer this week on Valentine's Day.  With that said, my availability for the next few days will remain sporadic.

  I do so appreciate everyone's kind words, prayers and support.  I cannot express what it has meant to me and my daughter.  When I am available it is a welcomed distraction as she was my number one fan, and supported my work 100%, and I LOVE what I do.  I plan to resume a regular schedule in a few days.
The out pour of condolences, has been greater than what I would have EVER dreamed of.  I would also like to mention a special  "Thank you" for the support from the paranormal communities across the board.
Please know that I have personally read every single email, text message and voice mail that you have left and accept my THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.  There is no way I could ever begin to reply to everyone personally.

FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS....

Some advice for Valentine's Day

With Valentine's Day approaching tomorrow, I am seeing anxiety levels begin to rise.  So I thought I would take a look at this from some different angles...(This applies to both male and females!)
Lets start with those who are single.  Why are you stressing over this?  I find it perfectly normal for those that are single to show some anxiety on Valentine's day.  Possibly because you are feeling vulnerable or it is the one day of the year that you feel alone.  There is the key....it is ONE day of the year!

 So for all of you single folks out there lets go over the do's and don'ts:
DO...
Treat yourself.  This can be by going out with friends, picking up something you have been wanting, or expanding your horizons into meeting new people.
DO NOT...
Pick up the phone and call an ex!  Remember, they are in your past for a REASON.  There is no need to reopen that can of worms!
ADVICE...
This is one day of the year and you WILL survive!  If you find yourself sitting around feeling lonely, remember this.  "If you CANNOT be happy with yourself, you will NEVER make someone else happy".

Now lets move on to those that are seeing someone or are currently in a fairly new relationship.  First and foremost, let your anxiety go!  Here is where I see a lot of anticipation on what the other person expects.  Let go and have fun.
DO...
Recognize that special someone as your Valentine.  This has nothing to do with money and the simple things in life will score you BIG brownie points.  It is not always about the gift.
DO NOT...
Play Valentine's Day down.  It IS a big deal.
ADVICE...
Valentine's Day is the perfect "Excuse" to take things to the next level.  This does not have to be an engagement.  A simple commitment or taking the time in expressing what you feel will go a long way.

Finally on to those that are involved in a long term relationship.  Yes, you still have to recognize Valentine's Day!  Though you may have the perfect relationship, it is still important to remind them how important they are to you.
DO...
Apply every effort to do something special, even if you have been together for twenty years.  It is always nice to hear that you still care.
DO NOT...
Blow it off.  Even if you are in a holding pattern of not celebrating Valentine's Day, break that routine!
ADVICE...
You may feel that you already have them, but NEVER forget how important it is to KEEP them!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!
For psychic readings visit me at my website.
Until next time...

January 2013 "Rants & Raves"

And once again, it looks like I am a day late getting to this, lol. Hang in there with me as it has been a crazy month.  This months topic is on my Mom and Reiki.  (Pictured below, my Mom and my daughter.)

This month has revolved around my Mom who is in the final stages of breast cancer.  We had a wonderful time over the holidays and unfortunately she took a turn for the worst on January 4th.  Now that we are at February 1st we are down to days if not hours.  I can say that she is at peace and my family is doing well.  Although we knew this was the path we were on, it is much harder now that the time is here.  Your emails of your stories, prayers and encouragement have been a LOT of my support.

Another topic I wanted to discuss was "Reiki", and for those that are not familiar with it, it is also known as the "Healing Touch", or simply energy healing.  Cancer patients are fond of this, or anyone seeking pain releif.  I have told some of my current Reiki students that I would go a little further with this here in my blog.

My Mom has always been my number one fan in anything I do.  (Yep a little biased!)  She is the one that encouraged me learning Reiki to begin with.  She has always been very big into meditation, relaxation, reflexology and aromatherapy.  With her encouragement, I became a Reiki Master.  (Meaning that I am at the teaching level to certify others.)  She has always been supportive and LOVED learning about the chakras  (Your energy fields).  She was also a willing participant in my learning days as someone to practice on.

In giving a Reiki session, I personally experience many things as a practitioner.  Sometimes my hands may tingle or one become hot or cold.  The "alignment" of what I can see on someones chakras vary by many.  To the person receiving Reiki their experiences tend to be the same and its not uncommon to have no experience.

Summer before last, my  Mom had quit a stressful job, and asked that I come over one afternoon for a Reiki session.  Her session went well, although my right hand was very hot and hot to her touch around her chest.  It was approximately a month later that a knot surfaced on her breast to which she did not have checked out right away, or tell anyone about.  When she did we learned that she was in the late stages of breast cancer, and oddly enough it was on the exterior.  For a long time, I carried a guilt of that Reiki session until I spoke with one of her doctors at Massey Cancer Center. To my surprise, I learned that he was also a Reiki Master.  It was nice to be reminded that Reiki enters the body for the "Greater Good" and is to push anything foreign out in aligning the chakras.  So did the Reiki session push the tumor out?  We don't know, but we do know because it was exterior it was found.  I have also learned that it has been very common for odd things to heal on someone that I had no prior knowledge of.  Reiki certainly won't heal cancer, but it does play a significant role in their pain management, and I was surprised to learn how many publications this was mentioned in at the cancer center.

My Mom has continued to receive those Reiki sessions running with her latest one being the day before yesterday.  Throughout her cancer, I can say her sessions have been normal but the heart chakra has always been "Over inflated".  Two weeks ago, as things got really bad, I did a Reiki session on her, and found comfort and new meanings to the words "Surrounded by the white light" as she certainly was.  Her chakras were barely visible due to that surrounding.  The day before yesterday, she requested a Reiki session as the pain was unbearable and the medication was no longer working.  The best I could describe this is all of her chakras were there, but paper thin, she is still surrounded by the white light and the heart chakra is still inflated.  A few hours after her session she went to sleep.  As of now, she is still asleep.  And for me?  I have NO regrets.

For those that have a story to share or experience, please feel free to do so.  For those that are seeking more information in learning Reiki or wondering if it is right for you, please email me at Jackie@ms-swami.com.  The Reiki Course will remain at a reduced rate, as long as I do not become overwhelmed with students.  I have since established a Facebook page just for Reiki so feel free to join me there!