I started smoking socially when I was 21 and before I knew it, I was hooked, thinking I could stop at any time because I’m just strong like that. Surprise, surpise… I was wrong.
Well if you’re reading this I’m sure you also have your own story of how you started and how bad smoking is for you but the good news is you’re here and I can help!
The short version is that excitement and love are the answer. It sounds odd I know but trust me, after having stopped smoking 3 times, it was the most permanent solution.
So the first step is for you to acknowledge that you want to stop and that you can, even if a small part of you thinks you can’t or even if a small part of you doesn’t want to stop.
Then have paper and a pen ready…now write down all of the advantages and disadvantages of smoking. Be honest and really take time to think of as many as possible. For me, something in my mind shifted when I saw all of the negatives verses the very few positives.
If you just lit up a cigarette don’t feel bad, so did I. I remember the first time that I attempted to stop, I ended up smoking more than before because somehow my brain thought I was losing something. Weird I know. It’s quite crazy what our minds come up with sometimes.
I started to imagine how life would be if I stopped smoking. Not just a passing thought but I really spent time looking at each of the negatives and then imagining how life would be without each one being a problem.
Something happened….I got excited…I lit another cigarette and with every positive thought, the taste got worse and I di that until I was just done, over it.
I realised soon after that my mind was now strong but the little nicotine monster inside my body was still there. I promised myself that no matter what, I would fight it, ignore it, distract myself for just long enough to get rid of it. The first two weeks weren’t easy since my husband still smokes but I’ve survived so much more, I kept telling myself “you got this, you can do this”.
I realised that it was the habit that was harder to get rid of so I thought of ways to keep my hands busy, a small elastic band, a stress ball, yes I got creative. Then I will admit, I replaced smoking with food and in keeping with the excitement, I had a celebration every day with cake, sweets, pizza you, you name it.
Note to self, you will put on weight if you have daily celebrations but I can tell you I don’t regret swopping smoking for a bit of weight because that’s easier to get rid of. Part of my motivation was all of you, I told myself that how could I tell people that anything is possible when I couldn’t handle the “stress” of every day. So thank you.
It has been 6 months, I have more energy and my senses are back but the amazing thing which I never knew about….I remember my dreams every morning. Even it’s falling of a building or getting chased by an evil clown, I am grateful.
I truly hope that this helps you and just know that you are stronger than what you think and you lived happily before smoking so you can do that again, YOU GO THIS!