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Share your quitting journey

I didn't / don't have any expectations (and it's served me well)

JonesCarpeDiem
4 2 79

Expectations: It ISN'T what I expected, but, I tried.

(My dad points to my happiness as a gift-I think it's the ability to enjoy each day)

Expectations are why so many marriages fail.

Expectations are why 94% of quitters don't make it a year smoke free.

We must flow with life NOT KNOWING THE OUTCOME.

Isn't that what makes life difficult? Hardships and wondering when they will end? Not knowing why someone's life was taken unexpectedly?  Being stuck on the side of the road with a mechanical failure wishing you had roadside assistance insurance and wondering how much the mechanic is going to charge?

unknowns and uncertainties are what frighten us.

The good news is if you accept life as it happens, there is no need to fear it.

No need to be unhappy or worried about the other shoe dropping.

NO NEED TO SMOKE

You can be happy, but, you must allow it.

You can quit smoking, but, you must allow it.

The only outcome without strings is one you pay for with cash.

What expectations did you have of quitting?

2 Comments
About the Author
Hello, My name is Dale. I was quit 18 months before joining this site and had participated on another site during that time. I learned a lot there and brought it with me. I joined this site the first week of August 2008. I didn't pressure myself to quit. HOW I QUIT I didn't count, I didn't deny myself to get started. When I considered quitting (at a friends request to influence his brother to quit), I simply told myself to wait a little longer. No denial, nothing painful. After 4 weeks I was down to 5 cigarettes from a pack a day. The strength came from proving to myself, I didn't need to smoke because I normally would have smoked. Simple yes? I bought the patch. I forgot to put one on on the 4th day. I needed it the next day but the following week I forgot two days in a row I put one in my wallet with a promise to myself that I would slap it on and wait an hour rather than smoke. It rode in my wallet my first year.There's nothing keeping any of you from doing this. It doesn't cost a dime. This is about unlearning something you've done for a long time. The nicotine isn't the hard part. Disconnecting from the psychological pull, the memories and connected emotions is. :-) Time is the healer.