What are Your Reasons?

Saturday June 3, 2006

When I finally put my cigarettes down for the last time, I was so sick and tired of everything associated with my smoking habit.

Most of all I was sick of feeling so afraid.

26 years of smoking had 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

When I decided enough was enough and took action, there was an almost immediate sense of relief. Yes, quitting is hard work in the beginning, but the worst of it happens in our minds before we quit.

The person I am today is very different from the frightened addict I was some years ago. I've regained the self-esteem smoking stole and have found a resilience and strength of character I didn't know existed within. Overcoming nicotine addiction was a gift in many ways.

I'll never relinquish my personal power to addiction again. I've learned the lesson!

OUR REASONS - Join the Discussion

Take a look at some of the reasons members of our active support community here at About.com Smoking Cessation have for quitting tobacco, and then sit down with paper and pen and create your own list.

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.

Related:

Why Should I Quit Smoking?

The Pros and Cons of Smoking

Photo by Nadya Smolskaya