The First Institute of Dynamic Learning, LLC (USA)

But as they spoke, they revealed a deep emotional connection to smoking:  

"I’m old. My children are grown, my spouse and I don’t have much to do. When I was young, I lived for my parents, then for my husband and children. Smoking is the only thing I ever did for myself. Everyone keeps telling me to quit because I have health problems but It’s the only pleasure I have left. If I quit, what will I have?"

This was not just a habit—it was their perceived anchor to joy.

Different Stroked for Different folks

Smoking cessation through hypnosis often involves suggestions like reducing the desire or making cigarettes taste bad. But every client is unique, and so was this case. Everyone as they said, was telling them to quit but that had not worked. Which indicates to me that they already had built in resistance to such suggestions.

I said to them:  "I don’t want you to quit. Instead, I want you to search for an activity that gives you the same or more pleasure than smoking."

In a deep trance, I guided them through a vivid visualization of what life could look like without smoking—the freedom, the health, the vitality. And again, I reinforced:  

"I don’t want you to quit. I want you to find something that brings you as much, if not more, pleasure than smoking."

After the session, I sent them home to explore this idea.

A Week Later, they called me, excited: "I found something! Just as you said, an activity that gives me more pleasure than smoking."  

We chatted about their discovery, reinforcing their journey toward creating a more fulfilling, smoke-free life. They didn’t need another session. The change was theirs to make, and they did it.

Why This Works

As practitioners of NLP and Hypnosis, our role isn’t to force change but to create the space and opportunity for it. People change when they want to and when they see a path that makes sense to them.  

NLP is not about therapy—it’s about understanding how people think, act, and find motivation, and then helping them achieve what they truly want.

If you want to learn how to facilitate life-changing transformations check my online NLP courses. 

Kamran Sultan

P.S. If you want to get a private coaching session with me click here

You can read more case stories here: 

1. NLP for Self-Image & Limiting Beliefs
2. NLP Phobia Cure: Phobia of Dogs
3. How to forget painful memories
4. How I coached a businessman make better decision
5. Dealing with procrastination using NLP timelines
6. Relationship Coaching: Mending relationships with NLP
7. Monophobia: The fear of being alone
8. Stop Smoking with NLP: A different approach
9. The Key to Lasting Change: Lessons from a Smoking Cessation Session
10. Overthinking: How a Client Went from Tired to Relieve with NLP
11. The Secret to Emotional Healing: The case of a broken heart girl
12. Seeing Through: A Guide to Deeper Human Connection
13. The Client Who Reincarnated Three Times: The Key to Effective Coaching