Updated January 25, 2015.

Developing the Will to Quit Smoking...Permanently

According to the Centers for Disease Control, upwards of 70 percent of all smokers want to quit smoking.
Think about that....70 out of every 100 people who smoke wish they didn't, yet they go on lighting up, day after day. Why? Because nicotine is an insidious addiction. It weaves its way into the fabric of our lives, attaching itself to every activity and every emotion we have, until we think that without our cigarettes, we won't be able to function properly or enjoy life.

People used to tell me that I'd quit when I was ready. Years went by while I was waiting to be ready. I worried it might never happen, or that when it finally did, it would be too late.

One of the most important things I've learned since quitting is that it is rare indeed for a smoker to really ever be "ready" for their quit date. Smokers are addicts, and addicts are controlled by the substance they're addicted to.

If I could give you only one piece of advice, it would be to quit now. Don't wait for the stars to align and conditions to present themselves perfectly, because if you do, you'll never quit smoking.

If You Want to Change Your Life, Change Your Mind

Solid will and determination to quit smoking is built one simple day at a time, and is bolstered by a variety of things, such as support, education and gratitude.

Getting Started

We all feel shaky and uncertain early on in cessation. We are plagued with unhealthy thoughts of smoking and it can seem as though we'll never be free of nicotine addiction.

Overcoming this phase of the quitting process is much easier to do when you know what to expect and how to combat it.
Today's lesson will help you begin to change the relationship you have to smoking by giving you steps to follow to retrain and condition your mind.

True Freedom is a State of Mind

Do the work it takes to shift your attitude about smoking, and you will be on your way.

Developing the Will to Quit Smoking

Building Strong Quit Muscles
Does your mind bounce back and forth on the issue of smoking cessation? Or do you quit, only to find yourself smoking again within days, or at most, a few weeks? Does nicotine addiction make you feel weak? Powerless? You're not alone.
Understanding Nicotine Addiction
Let's take a look at how nicotine affects brain chemistry and begin the educational process that will help us battle this addiction to the ground, once and for all.

Recovery from Nicotine Addiction: Myths vs. Facts
Review some of the most common misconceptions about quitting tobacco that can hinder your chances for success.

Achieving the Mindset for Success
Successful smoking cessation must involve a change of mindset about what cigarettes mean to us, otherwise we'll always be at risk for relapse.

Don't Settle for Less in Your Life
Smoking changes us, and those changes happen gradually, over a long period of time. Addiction teaches us to settle for less in more ways that you can probably imagine.

Personal Quit Stories

10 Tips That Will Help You Quit - Leo's Story
These tips to quit smoking come from a former smoker who used all of them to build a lasting quit program.

22 Things I've Learned About How to Quit Smoking - Nenejune's Story
In her personal account, this ex-smoker shares 22 things that helped her quit smoking successfully. They will help you, too.

Smoking Cessation Support

About.com Smoking Cessation Support Forum
Support is a key ingredient in a successful quit program. Connect with others who are going through smoking cessation now, along with those who are further along and can offer advice.
Quit Smoking 101 -- Index Page | Lesson 3