Quitting smoking is not an event, it is a project.
It is a process that takes time, and energy.
It is something that will require tools, support and persistence.
And as such, you need to recognize that the success of this project and process will take many little steps to continue and improve.
You may think, after one year, and I haven't had a smoke, I have succeeded.
It is a great day! I did it! Yes, it is a day to be proud, and a day to celebrate the fact that you are still smoke free.
You are going to have to manage this process, every day, and keep the faith that you are still smoke free.
One of the most uncomfortable ideas is the fact that smoking will have an end, and that as an ex-smoker, you will not have to work to remain an ex-smoker.
You will have stresses that will create a point of creating a trigger, and will be ever present.
The triggers that you had in the past, can bring you back to smoking, if you are not ever present and aware.
That doesn't mean that you won't be more powerful over the triggers each and every day.
As you evolve into an ex-smoker, you will be able to manage those triggers and cravings better than the previous day.
You will eventually see a trigger coming, and be ready to stop it before it even hits your emotional state that day.
So, be ever present, know the facts about your personal weaknesses and keep yourself in the know.
If you let your guard down, you can be back to smoking that one cigarette, and it will be a memory you wish you never had.
This brings up another point, which is you may have a day where you cannot control your cravings.
You may unwillingly give in, and it could be a really stupid reason.
Do not allow this slip to define you as a smoker once again.
You are and always will be a ex-smoker.
And, as such, you will have some failures.
These are common and you should revisit your beginnings of your anti-smoking tools, and try to bring yourself back to the mental state that brought you so far.
Truly, the power of the nicotine drug in your brain can play crazy tricks on you.
Your expectations will help you feel empowered, not defeated.
If you realize there will be slip-ups, and you don't take those slip-ups into a new habit of days and days, you are going to succeed.
If you allow one slip-up and just give up, you are willing to let the smoking succeed.
It is completely up to you.
Decide who is more powerful, and expect only the best from yourself.
Remember you are not perfect, and it may be that you have some failures.
But, you are powerful, and you can overcome nicotine forever.
It is a process that takes time, and energy.
It is something that will require tools, support and persistence.
And as such, you need to recognize that the success of this project and process will take many little steps to continue and improve.
You may think, after one year, and I haven't had a smoke, I have succeeded.
It is a great day! I did it! Yes, it is a day to be proud, and a day to celebrate the fact that you are still smoke free.
You are going to have to manage this process, every day, and keep the faith that you are still smoke free.
One of the most uncomfortable ideas is the fact that smoking will have an end, and that as an ex-smoker, you will not have to work to remain an ex-smoker.
You will have stresses that will create a point of creating a trigger, and will be ever present.
The triggers that you had in the past, can bring you back to smoking, if you are not ever present and aware.
That doesn't mean that you won't be more powerful over the triggers each and every day.
As you evolve into an ex-smoker, you will be able to manage those triggers and cravings better than the previous day.
You will eventually see a trigger coming, and be ready to stop it before it even hits your emotional state that day.
So, be ever present, know the facts about your personal weaknesses and keep yourself in the know.
If you let your guard down, you can be back to smoking that one cigarette, and it will be a memory you wish you never had.
This brings up another point, which is you may have a day where you cannot control your cravings.
You may unwillingly give in, and it could be a really stupid reason.
Do not allow this slip to define you as a smoker once again.
You are and always will be a ex-smoker.
And, as such, you will have some failures.
These are common and you should revisit your beginnings of your anti-smoking tools, and try to bring yourself back to the mental state that brought you so far.
Truly, the power of the nicotine drug in your brain can play crazy tricks on you.
Your expectations will help you feel empowered, not defeated.
If you realize there will be slip-ups, and you don't take those slip-ups into a new habit of days and days, you are going to succeed.
If you allow one slip-up and just give up, you are willing to let the smoking succeed.
It is completely up to you.
Decide who is more powerful, and expect only the best from yourself.
Remember you are not perfect, and it may be that you have some failures.
But, you are powerful, and you can overcome nicotine forever.