How many times have you quit tobacco and then started again? Most people who have smoked or use tobacco can say they have quit more than once and many people will say three, or seven, or ten times or more. Don't be discouraged if you are in this group because quitting before will help you quit for good now!
The little story of the little train engine, that said "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can" as he had pulled the train all the way over the steep mountain is a great model for what I suggest. Believe in yourself, don't let past discouragements color your effort now because today is a new day, You Can Quit. I know that if you reflect on past times when you have quit and learn from those attempts, and if you really believe in yourself that you will be able to quit!
Let's start with reflecting back on when you quit before, what worked for you? Was it changing smoking rituals to new things to do during times when you usually smoke? Did you find ways to cope with cravings that worked. Sometimes we don't realize that we learned a lot about quitting and what worked for us and we just focus on guilt and feel discouraged that we started again. Don't waste your time with regrets because you did learn from what you have done before and now is the time to build on that effort.
You can learn from the occasion when you began to smoke again. Learn from the time when you smoked that first cigarette after you quit. Where were you? What were you doing? What can you learn by looking back? These are all questions to answer so that you can make plans to avoid the where, the what and the occasion where you relapsed. Sometimes you are unable to avoid these same events but you can plan what you will do when faced with a difficult time or place or event that you know will be difficult. It is helpful to have decided before you are faced with these times what your reaction will be, or how you can change your reactions to difficult situations. Many people find that when they go to a bar or are drinking alcohol that they relapsed. If this is a difficult time for you too it might make sense to not go to a bar until you feel confident that you will not slide into smoking again when you are there. There are no right answers for everyone but there is a right answer for you and if you go into situations with a plan you can be successful.
I have spoken about reflecting on past behaviors and how you can plan for new behaviors. Let's talk about some of the ways to do this. Many people write about past events and can learn from them by writing down what happened during past quitting times. Other people learn by talking things over with a good listener. This might be a family member or a friend, or even someone who is also wanting to quit. You can learn from each other and be a support for each other and that is a powerful help. Whatever way you do this it really will make those past quitting times a valuable tool that can teach you a lot about what it takes to be a quitter for good, so whether you write in a journal, speak to a friend or a counselor know that this effort will really help you.
I want you to know that you can quit and that each time you have quit in the past is learning event that has prepared you to make this the last time you need to quit. Believe in yourself!
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