How many smokers are there who suddenly realize, without any help to stop smoking, they don’t want to smoke and just ‘up and quit successfully’ that same instant ? Granted, though there my be a rare few, the majority of smokers will keep on smoking for years because they’re in fact stuck in that between-place.

No one has illusions about how easy it’s going to be. For the most part, smokers have fretted over it for a long time: “It will be unbearable. I won’t be able to do it. I’m scared of what I’ll turn into. I’ll die of stress. I may just do things I’ll regret. The urges will be too strong. I’ll miss my friend, the cigarette. I’m afraid of going through withdrawal.”

Recognize any of the above thoughts ? Okay, would you like some little help to stop smoking ?

It’s so easy for us to intellectualize stopping, but doing it is quite a different story, and smokers know that only too well. In the end we need something that will help us. If any of us could opt for a surrogate to quit in our place, I’m quite confident we’d all get one to stop smoking for us. However unrealistic and silly that seems, it’s exactly the sort of thing smokers have all thought about and probably said.

So why do we continue to procrastinate about stopping smoking ? One reason is obvious : We know it’s not going to be fun; rather, we know it’s going to be the opposite, if anything. And so, we continue to justify our smoking and to sabotage any progress we could be making. So before you get to the point of making a solid plan to quit, I suggest you make a list of your fears. Open a word processor now and begin to make that list. Or, use paper if you prefer.

(Read Help To Quit Smoking – How To Face Your Fears)