Why Should I Quit Smoking?

What are the reasons behind your desire to quit smoking? Start a journal and use it to list them out. Every single thing you can think of, from the largest, most obvious, to the smallest. Write them all. Make a copy of your list and carry it with you, adding to it when something else comes to mind.

By focusing your thoughts on your own personal reasons for quitting, you are laying the foundation for successful smoking cessation. It all starts in your mind, and once you get your thoughts moving in the right direction, taking action will come more easily.

My own 26 year addiction turned me into a person I didn't much like...

• I was fearful that a smoking-related disease would catch up with me before I found a way to quit smoking. I was worried sick, so to speak.
• I hated the smoker's cough I had developed and the shortness of breath that I knew was a signal of lung damage.
• I hated the smell, the embarrassment and the need. I especially resented the need. Nicotine dependency made me feel weak and helpless.

These were a few of the first things I put on my own list of reasons, and it didn't take me long to add a long line of other things I hated about smoking as well.

It's like a snowball rolling downhill. Channel your thoughts onto that sheet of paper, and you'll begin to gain momentum. Once you start that snowball rolling, you'll be amazed at what you'll be able to do to change your life for the better.

Related:

The Pros and Cons of Smoking

EB's List of Reasons to Quit Smoking

Photo by Raquel Santos