How to quit smoking and have it take and be successful

An inspiring post from Marsha on another quit smoking support site.______________________________________________________________Marsha1--------------------------------------------------------------------------------HI!! I used to LOVE to smoke!!!!!! I smoked for over 30 years!!.....LOTS!!!............July 25 2003 at 3:52 PM Marsha1 (Login febfreedom2002)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------I am your typical addict. I thought I could never quit.......always pushed it WAY back in my mind....and honestly didn't really want to quit. BUT.....I knew I had to "some" day so I really DID want to quit. It's just that I really didn't want to....or I did....or what.....HECK!! I was an ADDICT...like I'm going to BELIEVE my brain and the addicted to nicotine thinking that the drug was throwing out to me and I , yes ME , was accepting as truth!!?? I just didn't want any discomfort, pain, nothing. I was/am and addicted wimpette.Please all of you newbies.....oldies.....whateverbies...and wannabies......How to quit smoking and have it take and be succesful:1. DON"T SMOKE!!!!!!!!!!! PERIOD. ONce you have made up your mind.......REALLY made up your mind to quit.....then QUIT!!!!!!! There are no magic pills, NOTHING,smoking cessation, no short cuts........NOTHING.........you have to just plain and simple NOT SMOKE. NO MATTER WHAT.2. BELIEVE......in YOURSELF......your God, and what others tell you that it does ....clean out those ears now......IT DOES get SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better that you will NOT want to do something as stupid as smoking again!!!!!!! And yes DAYS and even WEEKS go by without a thought!!!!! NOT EVEN A THOUGHT!!!!!! ANd if you have a thought....well, you will have the tools and smarts to know it's junkie thinking and if you CHOOSE.........if you CHOOSE to listen to your SMART side.......you will recognize them for that....laugh it off and tell yourself........"hello?? I don't smoke!!.....Thank God I don't smoke!! Thank goodness I don't have to have my life dictated by an addiciton anymore., I'm FREE!!!!!" Junkies need reminders.3. Yes,,,,,,the good times will FAR........I repeat FAR outweigh the bad..........YES!!!! It is true!!!! If it weren't.......I'd be smoking right now.4.YOU ARE NOT A SPECIAL CASE. You are not the one and ONLY smoker who really smokes and quitting just won't work. That is the biggest demon lie........5.Replace "I like to smoke, I am a smoker, it will be hard, I can't do it" to: "Who am I kidding!!? I HATE what smoking is doing to my life. Of course,stop smoking, I "love" to smoke.....I'm taking a $*&)^$* drug!!!!! So therfore my BRAIN is loving every minute of it......even tho magets may as well be chewing up the rest of me!! My brain is happy....what a crock!!! I was NOT born a smoker. Smoking is NOT natural. This is not the way I was created to be. This is a self inflicted addiciton!! I CHOSE this......and I.....ME.....have the power and I know it and you know it to UNCHOOSE this!!!!!!....It's hard to quit......but a LOT easier than hauling around an O2 tank.....or all the other obvious things that can happen that I won't mention right now......you know them. ANd of COURSE I can do it!!! I'm just scared!! Scared because cigs are my "friend"....or that is what the drug has made my mind think for all these years!!! We KNOW that is crap! (sorry....but it is!!)Now....I KNOW It is hard......and I am sorry......People here and elsewhere can give you TONS of support......BUT they can't quit for you! YOU have to do it......just like we all did. ANd you are looking at the biggest chicken and wimp alive when it came to giving up my drug right here!! YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!It's all in the mind!!! TONS of it is your ATTITUDE~!!!!!!!! Whenever the demon or your depression...or your kid...or your job....or WHATEVER says to you..." it was better when you smoked, you can't quit....this is too hard.......OH MY GOSH.the agony......STOP THOSE THOUGHTS RIGHT THEN AND THERE!!!!!!! THEY ARE LIES!!!!!!!! THe addiciton wants to keep alive ......DO NOT entertain any of those thoughts....IT is a trick and it is lies and you know it. YOU have to cut them off and out smart them. No......NO NO NO NO NO NO...you won't have to do this forever.......I never if ever have to even think about his anymore....BUt for weeks........maybe months off and on you will HAVE to do this.YOu may go monhts or weeks and say "what a piece of cake'........then BAM!!! Out of NOWHERE!!!!!!!.....here come the WORST craves of all.....DO NOT FALL FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STAY STRONG AND STAY FIRM....go to bed......cry, whine, eat, EXERCISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MOVE THAT BODY!!!!!!!!!!! PRAY>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>do NOT give in........it will go away!!! And the better will be better than the best of before.ok...((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))) to all of you who are having a rough time......I am sorry I can't be here all the time........but bottom line.....it is YOU. YOU are the one!! And YOU can do it!!!!Now.......if you are having a bad day........start counting your blessings........ I mean it! Start listing why you are GLAD you quit........even if at the time you don't believe hem. The MIND is what controls us and WE can control our mind., YOU make the choice. Are you going to smoke? Fine....then do it. But YOU KNOW what will happen!!!!!!! OR........OR OR OR.....are you going to dig your heels in and DO THIS THIS TIME!!???? And never ever EVER have another stupid hell week!!?? THINK positive......THINK GOOD THOUGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU are worth it!!! YOU are doingh the right thing!!! Take care of YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't blame your kids, or spouse or job for smoking.........give me a break.....YOU are the one choosing to kill yourself. And YOU are the one who can choose to live. JUST DO IT. I know I sound harsh here.........sorry...........I just want to grab some of you and hug you and promise you that it's time to be strong.....to grow up.....to quit.........and know that your life can ONLY IMPROVE from quitting.........HOW ON EARTH COULD IT HURT YOU!!??? ANd It CAN get worse and WILL get worse if you don't quit. ok ok...........You QUIT~!!!!!! We QUIT!!!!....Now get out there and CELEBRATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOu are doing the right thing!!! SMoking sucks!!! YOU don't!!!!REJOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BE THANKFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!write those cards and start reading them whenever you have to!!! There is no quick fix. LOVE yourself. IT works .......it gets better......FAKE the attitude......do whatever..........fake being happy,.........it WILL catch on!!!!!!!! YOU WILL feel that way!!!!!!!! Just do it!! Of course the neg. will take over if we ALLOW it. CHOOSE the positive. It is what will get you through. Stomp out ALL junkie thinking.....that means ANYTHING good about smoking.......IMMEDIATLEY!!!!!!!!! IT's lies and all a trick,..........belive it...do it........bye now........shew!!! I could neve have said all that in one breath when I smoked!!! Enjoy today!!! And be happy.......you WILL feel better!!!! PROMISE!!!!!!xoxoxoxomarsha