1)Thenicotinegumandpatchesareoftenusedbymillionsofsmokerstohelpkicktheirhabit.Buttheyhavenolastingbenefitandmaybackfireinsomecases,accordingtothemostrigorouslong-termstudytodateofso-callednicotinereplacementtherapy.Thestudy,publishedMondayinthejournalTobaccoControl,includednearly800peopletryingtoquitsmokingoveraperiodofseveralyears,andislikelytointensifyalong-runningdebateaboutthevalueofnicotinealternatives.Themarketfornicotinereplacementproductshastakenoffinrecentyears,risingtomorethan$800millionannuallyfrom$129millionin1991.Theproductswereapprovedforover-the-countersalein1997,andmanystateMedicaidprogramscoveratatleastoneofthem.Inmedicalstudies,theproductshaveprovedeffective,makingiteasierforpeopletoquit,atleastintheshortterm.Thoseearlier,moreencouragingfindingswerethebasisforfederalguidelinesthatrecommendedtheproductsforquittingsmoking.Butinsurveys,smokerswhohaveusedtheover-the-counterproductshavereportedlittlebenefit.Doctorssaidthatthestudyfindingswerenotunexpected,giventheoccasionalwaysmokersusedtheproducts.“Patientcomplianceisaverybigissue,”saidDr.RichardHurt,directoroftheNicotineDependenceCenterattheMayoClinic,whowasnotinvolvedinthestudy.Theresearchersarguethatwhilenicotinereplacementappearstohelppeoplequit,itisstillnotenoughinthelongrun.Motivationmattersalot;sodoesaperson’ssocialenvironment,theamountofsupportfromfriendsandfamily,andtherulesenforcedattheworkplace.2)Disappointment,asuncomfortableandevenpainfulasitcanbeforus,isessentialandimportantonourjourneyofgrowth.Makingpeacewithdisappointingothersallowsustoreleaseourerroneousdemandsforperfection.Lettinggoofourfearofbeingdisappointedgivesustheabilitytotakemorerisksandaskforwhatwetrulywant.Whenwe’reabletoembracedisappointment,wecreateasenseofliberationandspacethatfreesusuptobewhowetrulyareandletgoofourattachmentwithothers’opinions.Thisisnotalwayseasy,butissopowerfulandcanbetransformational.Hereareafewthingsyoucanconsideranddotoexpandyourcapacitytoembracedisappointment:First,takeinventory.Takeanhonestlookatsomeofthemostimportantrelationshipsandactivitiesinyourlife.Howmanyofyouractions,thoughts,conversationshavetodowithyouravoidanceofdisappointingothersorbeingdisappointed?Second,practicesaying“no.”Thisisagreatpractice,especiallyforthose“peoplepleasers”whofindsaying“yes”tostufftheydon’treallywanttodo.Whilethereisgreatvalueinbeingsomeonewhoiswillingtosay“yes”inlife,thereisalsopowerinowningour“no”aswell.Third,expandandexpressyourdesires.Makealistofsomeofthemostimportantandvulnerabledesiresyoucurrentlyhave-thethingsyoureallywant,butmaybehavebeenafraidtoadmit.Whenyouallowyourselftoexpressyourauthenticdesires,yougiveyourselfthefreedomtoask,dreamandcreate.3)Sleepiscrucialforgoodhealth.Ithelpsmemoryandmood,keepsyoufit,strengthensyourimmunesystem,fightsinflammationandkeepsyourheartandbloodvesselsintip-topshape.Whileyou’resnoozing,thebodyrepairsdamagedtissue,producescrucialhormonesandstrengthensmemories—aprocesscalledconsolidation,whichhelpsyouperformanewskillbetteraftersleepingthanyouwouldifyouspentanequivalentamountoftimeawake.It’sawayforthebodytointegrateeverythingthathappenedoverthepastwakingdayandtokindofprepareforthenextday.Shortsleepers,typicallydefinedaspeoplewhogetlessthansixhoursofsleepatnight,aswellaspeoplewhodon’tspendenoughtimeinthedeepeststagesofsleep,areathigherriskofheartattacksandstrokes...