Quitting Smoking is not the First Thing You Should Do
I know what you’re thinking. You are thinking that you can’t possibly have read that right – but it’s true. If you are looking to become a non-smoker, then quitting is one of the last steps you should take. Please allow me to explain.
Usually, the thought of quitting smoking comes up only when you confront a virtual threat like a health scare or the realization that it is taking a heavy toll on your body. The reason is not important; what is important is that you have taken the decision to quit smoking. This is a huge achievement; don’t spoil it by rushing to the end without walking all the way. You will get nowhere.
You cannot quit smoking before getting ready to quit. This preparedness includes educating yourself on all the steps of the process, the common pitfalls and how to overcome them amongst other things. Just as it would be silly to start sewing your daughter’s wedding dress just because you bought a new sewing machine, in the same way you can’t just quit smoking by just taking a vow that you are going to become a non-smoker. You will make a mess of the dress and as for quitting smoking you will most probably get so discouraged by your lack of will power that you wouldn’t attempt giving it up for a long time to come.
So, it is best to follow a systematic program for quitting smoking. There are many programs displayed on the internet. While selecting the best program, it is best to compare a number of them; judge the merits and demerits of each, and then select the one that discloses the steps of the process and not the one that jumps to the conclusions. They may promise the moon but deliver nothing fantastic, and demoralize you in the bargain. Make sure that the program you are buying is based on providing information and guiding you step-by-step through the tedious journey of breaking your old habit. The ideal program would encourage you to take your time to learn and prepare and a bad one will want you to place your faith in a product by claiming that there is no effort required on your part.
Your effort is most important; nothing comes without a little effort from you. And, this is all about you, so how can you not be involved in it? In fact, you should put in all your effort in the preparation stage and then leave the results to come on their own. Remember, quitting is the easy part – you just stop. It depends on the preparations you take before you quit. It is the preparations that determine your success or failure. So make sure you are ready to quit before you actually quit smoking.
Best of Luck,
Darren Warmuth
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