If you want to change your life, change your mind.
You can abstain from smoking for years, but if you never change the relationship you have with cigarettes, the chains will continue to hold you tight. Change the way you think and you can free yourself in an instant. You'll still have to do the work to undo the years of habit of course, but once you free your mind, you're on your way.Yard by yard is always hard, but inch by inch is always a cinch.
This is a catchy way to remember another valuable truth that will help you on your journey. Recovery from nicotine addiction is a process of gradual release over time. Keep yourself in the present moments of today and you'll find the job manageable. Don't worry about tomorrow or the next day or forever. Think about today only and what you can do with it. Recovery comes in inches, but those inches add up.Quitting is not a race.
Relax into your quit. Don't think of it as a destination but as a journey. Take your time and let the healing happen as it will. It's a mistake to place expectations on your recovery, and it's a sure-fire way to set yourself up for failure. Let the process unfold for you as an individual. Take the experiences of others into account, but don't let them drive your quit program. Your quit is yours alone.Think of momentum as a tool.
We all start our quit programs on day one. We all have to endure hell and heck weeks and the discomforts beyond them. Every smoke free day makes you stronger and more able to succeed. The gains are imperceptible at first, but they're happening all the same. Day by day you're building momentum and it will propel you forward with greater ease as time goes by. That momentum will carry over into other areas of your life as well. You'll use it to achieve other goals you once thought of as unattainable. We can always do more than we think we can.Time heals.
When I first quit smoking and found the About.com Smoking Cessation Forum, an old-timer told me that in time, smoking would lose its importance in my life. I hung on those words - they gave me hope! I had a hard time believing it mind you, but I wanted what he said to be true so badly.Well, that old-timer was right. Today, smoking has lost its luster completely. Along with a change in attitude, time has helped me to replace the hundreds of associations I had to smoking. The triggers are gone - and new, healthier habits have taken their place. It's a very rare occasion when thoughts of smoking surface anymore for me. When they do, it's almost always in a dream. Time has been a great quit buddy.
Freedom comes in stages.
As Michelle mentions in her article Patience with the Process: "It is said that "Patience is a virtue," but in breaking the chains of nicotine addiction, I think patience is absolutely vital." She's right. Recovery from this addiction is not a straight line - there will be ups and downs along the way, but all the while you are moving forward. Patience (mostly with self) will see you through.Gratitude is My Attitude.
A grateful heart will protect you from the destructive contortions your mind can put you through. We can be our own worst enemies. End every single smoke free day on a grateful note. Build an attitude of gratitude deliberately and before long it will become a part of who you are. It's good medicine for your quit and for life in general.*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Four years down the road, I can tell you that I love my smoke free life wholeheartedly. I'm healthier than I've been in years, and more confident too. I've used my 26 year addiction as a springboard for growth, and I am a better person today because of it. I've gone from helpless and out of control to empowered and able to embrace the challenges that come my way. Smoking cessation has given me gifts that keep on giving.You can do it too. Think of your quit as a journey - a grand adventure that will bring you treasures and rewards beyond your wildest dreams. Yes, there will be times of turmoil, but they are temporary. You are building a new and improved you. Be patient and give yourself time to grow into it.
Today, I am a very grateful ex-smoker with four years of freedom under my belt!
Terry's Quit Smoking Story
Smoking Cessation has Taught Me Patience - Terry's 1 Year Milestone
Don't Settle for Less in Your Life - Terry's 2 Year Milestone
Why I Will Never Smoke Again - Terry's 3 Year Milestone
If I Can Quit Smoking, So Can You - Terry's 5 Year Milestone
