Quit Smoking: Start Your Journey with a Journal

If you're a smoker, chances are you've tried to quit many times or deep down inside you've felt you should quit for obvious reasons pertaining to your health, but have no idea where to start.

I've smoked for 22 years and spent over 10,000 dollars trying to quit smoking and finally I am proud to stay, I am a "non-smoker." Yes, there is hope for you!

Let the truth be known; it's very hard! However, it can be done with the right tools and strategies. There is no way I can share everything I used to help me kick a 22 year smoking habit but what I can do for sure, is share one major tip/strategy I used and use to this day to live a smoke free life.

Start a journal. This can be an online journal such as a blog or a paper journal which happens to be my weapon of choice. I know, I know, every self-help guru say keep a journal. Well I'm not a Guru and it's working for me so please stay with me here.

I know, everyone says "keep a journal" but not many go into details about the "why and how" so we really don't feel motivated to start recording or life. This is one of the key distinctions I've made in the past. I also noticed that it was a big reason for not starting my journal. So keep reading because I'm going to help you over the "journal hump."

Say you're thinking right now about wanting to quit smoking, along comes other thoughts like "I'm too stressed to think about that now. Oh, God, where would I start, but what will I do if I can't, what if I get fat?" These thoughts are clouded emotions that push your first thought of quitting smoking further and further away.

Keeping a journal will help you take all the emotion out of your daily thoughts and help you get really clear on what you want and how you're going to get it.

It's ok to have all kinds of thoughts associated to your quit smoking thought; you'll just want to write them all down in your journal. Then go through the list of thoughts and ask yourself, Are these real concerns that need to be thought out and taken seriously, or, are they just excuses my mind is playing on me to protect me from experiencing pain that comes with quitting smoking?" That's right; your mind will come up with all kinds of excuses to avoid quitting and to protect you! Just say "thank you for sharing!"

A paper journal is a black and white, pure logic system and why I like it. This is exactly what is needed when taking on such an outrageous task such as quitting smoking.

There are tons of books and seminars on keeping a journal so let's keep it really simple. For now, grab a note pad and start a list of why you need to stop smoking. As you write remember you're mind will start playing games by coming up with excuses, but don't give in! You may want to write at the top of the note pad, "My Why Reasons I'm quitting smoking." Everything I've studied about getting your out comes in life stress the "why" first not the how so write as much as you can.

 Aki Desorcy Aki is a none smoker and now helps others become non-smokers. To read more about keeping a journal to quit smoking please visit Aki's quit smoking blog at quitsmoking.effective-info.com

This article may be distributed and used by anyone as long as this resource box stays with the body and title or the article and all links stay activated.