Smoking and "Freedom"?

Its coming up on the 4th of July, America's celebration of it's Declaration of Independence and the belief that people deserve to be free. The notion that you have a right to self-determination is deeply ingrained in the American psyche.

Over the past couple of decades there has been some grumbling about smoker's "rights" being trampled upon by the ever increasing restrictions on when and where a person may smoke in public. Even though as a professional hypnotist I experience great joy in helping people let go of the smoking habit, to some degree I do appreciate that concern. No one really likes being told what to do.

It seems to be a situation where the rights of the individual are being weighed against the a) the effects of second hand smoke on people who chose to be smoke-free and b) the overall cost to society when it comes to the medical costs of treating totally preventable smoking related illnesses-which are astronomical.

Yet I do have some problems with the idea that a smoker is truly "free." Is it freedom when:

• You feel the need to light up even when you don't want to?
• That people persist with that habit even after being diagnosed with heart or lung ailments caused by smoking?
• That a pack a day cigarette habit costs around $3,000 a year during a lingering recession?
• That when and where you can smoke has to be considered before you decide to do something or travel somewhere?

An interesting historical factoid: the advertising executive who made smoking "fashionable"  for American women during the early 20th century, Edward Bernays, was Sigmund Freud's nephew!

Prior to his efforts smoking was not seen as a particularly feminine activity and was shunned by most women.

So the tobacco industry hired Bernays to increase their market share among the fairer sex. He arranged to have female celebrities of the day photographed smoking in public. Pretty young women were hired to hand out cigarettes at public events.

However his most effective ploy was to dub cigarettes "freedom sticks" to play up to the sentiments of the growing women's equality movement.

Unfortunately this public relations campaign was a whopping success and countless thousands of American women were condemned to preventable illnesses and early deaths.

Now if you wish to continue smoking, that is your business. However, if you would like to declare your independence from that dirty, dangerous and expensive habit, I am here to help.

A free, confidential phone consultation is available, call (732) 714-7040.

P.S. I have totally free stop smoking e-course for you if you would like to learn more. It shares little known secrets of becoming a healthy non-smoker for life. Just click on the link below, enter your email address and you are good to go.

http://eepurl.com/0Vd91