Quit Smoking 101: Lesson 2 - Developing the Will to Quit Smoking

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Quit Smoking 101 Lesson 2 - Developing the Will to Quit Smoking From Terry Martin, your Guide to Smoking Cessation According to the Centers for Disease Control, upwards of 70 percent of all smokers want to quit smoking. Think about that....70 out of every 100 people who smoke wish they didn't, yet they go on smoking. Why? Because nicotine is an insidious addiction. It weaves its way into the fabric of our lives, attaching itself to every activity and every emotion we have, until we think that without our cigarettes, we won't be able to function properly or enjoy life. People used to tell me that I'd quit when I was ready. Years went by while I was waiting to be ready. I worried it might never happen, or that when it finally did, it would be too late. One of the most important things I've learned since quitting is that it is rare indeed for a smoker to really ever be "ready" for their quit date. Smokers are addicts, and addicts are controlled by the substance they're addicted to. If I could give you only one piece of advice, it would be to quit now. Don't wait for the stars to align and conditions to present themselves perfectly, because if you do, you'll never quit smoking. If You Want to Change Your Life, Change Your Mind Solid will and determination to quit smoking is built one simple day at a time, and is bolstered by a variety of things, such as support, education and gratitude. We all feel shaky and uncertain early on in cessation. We are plagued with unhealthy thoughts of smoking and it can seem as though we'll never be free of nicotine addiction. Overcoming this phase of the quitting process is much easier to do when you know what to expect and how to combat it. Today's lesson will help you begin to change the relationship you have to smoking by giving you steps to follow that will help you retrain and condition your mind. True Freedom is a State of Mind Do the work it takes to shift your attitude about smoking, an! d you wi ll be on your way. Developing the Will to Quit Smoking Building the Determination to Quit Smoking Does your mind bounce back and forth on the issue of smoking cessation? Or do you quit, only to find yourself smoking again within days, or at most, a few weeks? Does your smoking habit make you feel weak? Powerless? Do you wonder if you'll ever find a way to quit smoking for good? You're not alone. Understanding Nicotine Addiction In order to quit smoking successfully for the long term, it helps to understand the nature of nicotine addiction and what it takes to break free of it. Let's take a look at how nicotine affects brain chemistry and begin the educational process that will help us battle this addiction to the ground, once and for all. Recovery from Nicotine Addiction: Myths vs. Facts Let's review some of the most common misconceptions about quitting tobacco that can hinder your chances for success. Achieving the Mindset for Success Success with any challenge is due in great part to the planning we put into the task ahead of time. This holds especially true for smoking cessation, where the more you understand and prepare for the difficulties, the better able you'll be to maintain control and stay smoke-free. Don't Settle for Less in Your Life Smoking changes us, and those changes happen gradually, over a long period of time. In fact, the personality shifts we experience due to nicotine addiction are so subtle; most of us don't realize our cigarettes are responsible for them. Two Months Smoke-Free -- Mary's Story "I started on a slippery road with fear and trembling in my sack, but once around the corner I knew there was no turning back." About.com Smoking Cessation Support Forum Support is a key ingredient in a successful quit program. Connect with others who are going through smoking cessation now, along with those who are further along and can offer advice. This email is written by: Terry Martin Smoking Cessation Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Missing a lesson? Click here. About U. is our collection of free online courses designed to help you learn a new skill, solve a problem, get something done, or just learn more about your world. Sign up now, and we will email you lessons on a daily or weekly basis. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the About.com 'Quit Smoking 101' email. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2013 About.com   Advertisement