Why Its Dangerous to Try to Stop Smoking

The question of how to stop smoking is one that many people worry about; after all, smoking is thought to be as addictive as most illegal narcotics, and many who have attempted to stop smoking find that its one of the most difficult challenges theyve ever faced!

But its certainly not an impossible challenge, as the many successful former smokers that join the ranks every year can attest to. Being able to stop smoking may be difficult, but it can be done!

How then can we say that its actually dangerous to try to stop smoking? Consider the following:

The first step for virtually anyone who wants to stop smoking is to make up their mind that this is what theyre going to do period. Theres a famous line in the first Star Wars movie where the Jedi master Yoda said simply, Do, or do not. There is no try. It sounds a bit silly, but many people who need to make serious changes in their life losing weight, sticking to a budget, being able to stop smoking have found those words very useful.

To say that youre going to try to do something leaves you open for failure. Youre attempting to do this thing, youre not actually doing it. It may sound confusing, but there is a difference.

One useful tool that many coaches and psychologists use when counseling those who want to stop smoking is that they should tell themselves that theyre either a smoker, or theyre not. Someone who is a non-smoker isnt trying to quit; he or she just doesnt smoke, and thats all there is to it.

Again, this may seem elementary, but its something that seems to work for many. Thinking of themselves as a non-smoker doesnt leave them the option of smoking. Consider your many non-smoking friends do any of them think about whether or not theyre going to have that morning cigarette, or if theyre going to light up while sitting in the bar with you? Chances are the answer is no, they just dont smoke, and thats all there is to it.

So this may seem to you to be a very casual and maybe even somewhat silly way of thinking, that you should stop trying to stop smoking, but you need to replace that concept of trying with doing. Youre either a smoker, or youre not. Once you take away your option of trying, you may find that youve taken away your option for failing, and this may be the key to your successful endeavor to once and for all stop smoking.