Happy “Spotlight Wednesday”!
Today, I’m excited to share with you some of this week’s most inspiring success stories and helpful tips from the CBQ community.
Let’s dive in!
Inspiring Journey
This week, CBQ Nicotine Freedom Program member Mila Shugol from Massachusetts, US, celebrated 2 years smoke-free!
Mila had smoked for 50 years, with breaks only during her pregnancies. Over the years, she tried different ways to quit, including acupuncture and hypnosis, but nothing worked.
When Mila came across the CBQ Method, she signed up for the free CBQ Masterclass. What stood out to her was the idea that she can reprogram her brain. She decided to join the CBQ Program and give it her full commitment.
Mila did all the exercises, and when the quit date she had set for herself arrived, she was more than ready. She smoked her last cigarette and never looked back!
2 years later, Mila is still a happy non-smoker. 2 days ago, she shared this update:
This is Mila with her CBQ Freedom Certificate:
Inspiring Success
This week, CBQ Nicotine Freedom Program member Kathryn Hussie from Pennsylvania, US, celebrated 4 years smoke-free! Kate used to love smoking and tried to quit many times, but nothing really worked for her. One day she found the CBQ Method online and watched many of my YouTube videos before deciding to join the CBQ Program.
After completing the program, Kate smoked her last cigarette with ease and without willpower and, to her surprise, found quitting smoking a profound experience. In her own words “This program is truly profound! Not only does it work, but it has given me self-confidence in so many other areas of my life because I have discovered strength I never knew I had!”
4 years later, Kate is still a happy non-smoker.
This is Kate with her CBQ Freedom Certificate:
Kate’s Tip: Visualize what you hate about smoking.
“Visualize what you hate about smoking – like going outside in the rain and cold to smoke, or going out late at night or super early just because you need them, digging around for your last couple dollars to get a pack, waking up with a scratchy throat, and also the anxiety if you couldn’t smoke when the urge came!
If you have a craving, compare that to how it feels when you are smoking and you can’t find your cigarettes or you need more and can’t get them right away, and how unbearably awful that is!
And then think to yourself that this little craving will pass, and because of that you won’t have those awful awful bouts of needing a cigarette and having all that anxiety about it anymore!”
Inspiring Mindset
This week, CBQ Nicotine Freedom Program member Larry Gleaves from Texas, US, celebrated 1 year smoke-free!
Larry smoked for 62 years and had what he described as a love-hate relationship with smoking. He felt like he needed cigarettes, but he hated being a smoker.
For decades, Larry tried to quit so many times he lost count. As he shared, “Before my quit date, I likened my quit attempts to an airplane trying to get off the ground. I would fail over and over again.”
After so many quit attempts that didn’t last, Larry started to wonder if quitting was still possible for him. He kept searching and found the CBQ Program. Even though he was filled with doubt, he postponed his disbelief, committed fully, and went through the program.
Then Larry experienced what he calls “the jump.” The spell of smoking broke, and he no longer saw a future where he kept smoking.
On September 25, Larry smoked his last cigarette.
1 year later, Larry is still a happy non-smoker even though his wife still smokes.
This is Larry with his CBQ Freedom Certificate:
Inspiring Moment
This week, CBQ Nicotine Freedom Program member Juiniata Webster from New Brunswick, Canada, celebrated 2 years smoke-free!
Before joining the CBQ Program, Juiniata worried that quitting smoking would be too hard, that it wouldn’t last, and that she would miss smoking and relapse.
Then one day, she came across my TEDx Talk. After attending the free CBQ Masterclass, Juiniata decided to join the program.
As she went through the lessons, she had an important aha moment. On Day 7, she realized what void she had been trying to fill with smoking. For years, cigarettes had become her way of stepping away from the demands of life and finding a quiet moment to herself. What she truly wanted was not smoking, but the silence, space, and alone time that helped her feel grounded. That realization helped her understand smoking in a deeper way and prepare for her quit date.
On Day 10 of the program, just as planned, Juiniata quit smoking.
When she reached her 1-year milestone, Juiniata shared more about her journey:
2 years later, Juiniata is still a happy non-smoker!
This is Juiniata holding her CBQ Freedom Certificate:
Inspiring Milestone
This week, CBQ Nicotine Freedom Program member Jamie Nelson from Alberta, Canada, celebrated 4 years smoke-free!
Jamie smoked for 27 years, often a pack a day. For a long time, she never thought she could quit.
When Jamie joined the CBQ Program, she showed up for every exercise and gave the process her full attention. Step by step, quitting started to feel possible. After completing the program, she quit smoking and felt proud of the decision she had made.
4 years later, Jamie is still a happy non-smoker! This is Jamie with her CBQ Freedom Certificate:
Inspiring Mindset
This week, CBQ Nicotine Freedom Program member Donna Tjotjos from Ohio, US, celebrated 3 years smoke-free!
In the past, Donna had convinced herself that quitting smoking would change who she was. She thought that if she became a non-smoker, she would become a different person, someone unhappy, irritable, and mean to the people she loved.
But as Donna went through the CBQ Program, she began challenging those beliefs and realized she could become a non-smoker while still being herself. By the end of the program, her mindset had changed. Quitting no longer felt like losing part of herself, and she was ready to become smoke-free. She quit!
Two months after quitting, Donna shared that the gifts of becoming smoke-free kept coming every day.
At 28 months smoke-free, Donna shared, “I thought I would be miserable but every minute as a non smoker I am happy. I CHOOSE to be a happy non smoker and you can too. 28 months now and I AM FREE.”
3 years after her quit date, Donna is still a happy non-smoker and enjoying the freedom she once feared quitting would take away.
This is Donna with her CBQ Freedom Certificate:
Inspiring Milestone
This week, CBQ Nicotine Freedom Program member Julie Watts from England, UK, celebrated 5 years smoke-free!
After joining the CBQ Program, Julie became free from cigarettes and shared, “Thanks to the CBQ Method I have actually managed to give up smoking.”
5 years later, Julie is still a happy non-smoker! This is Julie with her CBQ Freedom Certificate:
Inspiring Journey
This week, CBQ Nicotine Freedom Program member Maria Martinez from New Mexico, US, celebrated 6 years smoke-free!
Maria started smoking at age 13 and smoked for 35 years. For a long time, she believed smoking was something she had to do forever, so she had never seriously tried to quit.
When Maria came across the CBQ Program, the gradual approach made quitting feel less intimidating. She liked knowing that she wouldn’t have to give up cigarettes right away and could take the time to prepare for her quit. As she explained, “It didn’t seem so scary. After all, all I was going to do was get ready to quit. I still had 10 days with my smokes.”
Maria joined the program and began preparing herself to quit. By the end of those 10 days, she was ready to leave smoking behind, and she did.
Here’s what Maria shared about her journey:
6 years after her quit date, Maria is still a happy non-smoker!
This is Maria holding her CBQ Freedom Certificate:
I hope today’s spotlights inspired you and showed you that you can also break free! A big thank you to our members who gave me permission to share their stories with you.
To your freedom,
Nasia Davos (MBPsS, IPPA, MA)
Ex-Smoker, Psychologist, Creator of the CBQ Method™
P.S. Feeling inspired to break up with nicotine… but don’t know how ready you are to actually do it? Take this quiz to find out how ready you are to quit smoking or vaping in the next 30 days: cbqquiz.com
This free assessment will show you your “Readiness to Quit Smoking” score, identify what might be sabotaging your efforts, and suggest the next best step to take. It’s insightful, personalized, and quick!
Take The “How ready are you to quit smoking?” Quiz Here
