Resolve to give up smoking

It is important that smokers genuinely 'resolve to give up smoking' when they 'decide' to give up. Resolving to give up smoking properly makes a significant difference in your chances of success. By making a 'proper' decision, you increase your chances of success in overcoming the evil weed several fold.

So what do I mean by 'making a proper decision'? Well, most smokers when they decide to give up smoking don't really resolve to give up smoking; they merely decide to hope to be able to give up smoking. There are many reasons for this but the most significant one I think is the emotional attachment to smoking.

Smokers think that they enjoy smoking despite the fact that to smoke, one must inhale hot toxic gas and particulates in order to enjoy it. Because smokers are so attached to smoking as an enjoyable pass time, it is difficult to resolve to give up smoking without seeing giving up smoking as a test of will or abstinence, resulting in anxiety about giving up.

This anxiety manifests itself in the smokers mind by making them nervous at the thought of spending the rest of their lives without their beloved cigarettes. After all, the average smoker hasn't enjoyed a cup of coffee, meal or alcoholic drink in the last few years without a trusty cigarette within arms reach.

If you decide to give up smoking you must resolve to give up smoking and not merely decide to 'give it another go'. And it probably will be just another go - research suggests that most smokers take 7 attempts over several years to kick the habit!

So how can you go about resolving to give up smoking? Well, firstly you must accept the rest of your life must be without cigarettes. This is an horrific proposition for most smokers because they enjoy smoking so much. But consider these facts;

Fact #1: We were all born as non-smokers. It was only after starting smoking that we became smokers and we didn't even chose to do that, we only chose to give smoking a try. (That is another story I cover in my book!)

Fact #2: 25% of the population of the United States have never smoked a cigarette and they seem to get on with life okay. These people have resolved never to smoke and they don't miss it one iota!

Fact #3: 25% of the population have tried smoking and just couldn't get into it - they don't smoke and they seem to manage just fine too.

Fact #4: 25% of the population used to smoke at one time or another for varying periods of time but they have now given up. They don't smoke and seem to get on with life fine too.

Finally, there is the 25% of people who currently smoke and who have not managed to resolve to give up smoking. Researching how to give up smoking is a good start and the first step on a journey to a smoke free life so by reading this article you are already headed in the right direction!

At least 75% of the population can and do live happily without cigarettes. What makes you so special? Go on, don't just decide to try and give up, resolve to give up smoking.

To finish, here is a quote from Marlene von Savant: "Being defeated is a temporary condition. Giving up makes it permanent." As ever, never give up trying to give up smoking.