LEWINS EQUATION TO MAKE YOU A TOBACCO WINNER!
Kurt Lewin in 1936 gave a very simple formula an equation which said behaviour is a function of the person in the environment. What it means is – the habit or behaviour of a person is just not dependent on a person’s character but it also depends on the environment one is exposed to.
This is very much true with tobacco also whether it is smoking or chewing.
Both your personality and environment determines the good habits you would build, bad habits you would break and the way you would progress in life.
A person who is into the action phase of quit cycle, relapses not just because he is born with low will power but mostly because of the environment.
Tobacco addiction has three important components – PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL.
Determining the level of Physical addiction and controlling it with medication when necessary is the first step. But a major component is also the Psychological and Social environment. Psychological or mental strength is a must but at the same time you need to be surrounded with a healthy environment and motivational materials to keep you strong and constantly remind you and strengthen your will power.
Your social environment is one major determinant of your long journey of tobacco cessation – your friend circle, the party time, office colleagues, the pan shop etc. may trigger you to try once again. One slip will take you back to the bottom of the stairs you have climbed so far in your quit cycle. Keep track of your triggers, it is important. I will talk about triggers in subsequent blogs.
Anyone who is into a wrong habit we should help before the early signs of tobacco harm sets in. The advance harms are really dangerous.
The book WIN OVER TOBACCO MADE EASY would be of help.
A word of caution – the teachers, school counsellors, parents should be aware how to deal with such situation. I will talk about it in my subsequent blogs.