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3 Top Challenges When Trying to Kick the Butt

The famous author, Mark Twain, once said, “Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times.

While this quote is amusing, the fact remains that trying to quit smoking is one of the toughest things to do. Millions of people try and fail repeatedly. The discomfort, withdrawal symptoms, strong addiction, inertia and stepping out of the comfort zone makes this a very onerous task.

Even Hercules’ challenges pale in comparison to a smoker trying to quit. Why is this so?

3 Top Challenges When Trying to Kick the Butt
3 Top Challenges When Trying to Kick the Butt

Number 1.
The first issue is temptation. Just like people who are trying to lose weight get tempted by food, smokers get tempted by the idea of “relaxing”. That’s what they feel when they take a puff. That immense sense of relief and relaxation because the body craves its nicotine fix.

Habits will also be ingrained in their daily behaviour without them even knowing it. Taking a smoke break with your buddy at work? That’s a habit. Taking a puff with your wife after a romp in the bedroom? That’s a habit. Lighting up stick after stick at a party flowing with booze? That’s a habit.

Since these habits are a part of you and people by nature, are creatures of habit, you will constantly face temptation. That’s a given. You will need to break out of your usual patterns to avoid temptation.

When you’re trying to quit, avoid the scenarios where you may find yourself smoking on a normal day. Avoid the parties, if you smoke there. Avoid following your friend for his smoke break even if it’s just to keep him company. Avoid temptations.

Number 2.
The second challenge that you will face are the incessant questions from well-meaning family members, friends and even strangers. For example, you may be getting nicotine gum at the store and the store owner may ask you, “Oh! Trying to quit, are we? Good luck with that buddy!”

It may get annoying after a while. Some of your close friends may even start a pool just to see when you give up and get back to the cigarettes. It’s all funny to them. In most cases, they will be smokers too and will do their best to prevent you from quitting. This is human nature.

If you successfully quit, your success will shine a spotlight on their failure and nobody likes that. You don’t mean to but that’s just the way things are. If all this perturbs you, your best option will be to tell everyone that it’s a real struggle and you don’t wish to talk about it and tempt yourself. Hopefully they get the hint.

Number 3.
Finally, you need to self-reflect and see why you are smoking in the first place. That’s the third challenge. You will need to be honest with yourself. There is usually an emotional reason.
Some people smoke because they are stressed out at work. Others smoke because the Marlboro Man looked cool once upon a time and they still think it’s cool. One of the models, David Millar, who played the Marlboro Man died of cancer. So, that pretty much says how “cool” smoking is.

You must figure out your reason for smoking and address the underlying issue or your efforts will just be exercises in futility. Once you have identified it, you will be able to take appropriate steps to address it. If it’s stress, relaxation techniques to dissipate your stress will be helpful… and no… smoking is NOT a relaxation technique.

If you’re smoking because it’s a habit, then there are nicotine gums and patches that will gradually diminish your cravings and finally, you will be able to quit this nasty habit and never look back.

Rather than you smoking a cigarette, the cigarette is really smoking you.” – Anthony Liccione

See our home page ‘Nicotine Slave‘ for further articles and information.

We hope you have found this article – 3 Top Challenges When Trying to Kick the Butt – helpful and will click the share button to help spread the word and please leave your comments below, many thanks.

Mykal Jon
Mykal Jon

Hi, I'm the editor of the posts on this blog. My goal is to provide you with useful, straight-forward insights on how to QUIT SMOKING and improve the overall health of your lungs by bringing you all the latest news and developments from the world of healthy SMOKE-FREE living.

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