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Read a member curated list of EX Community content over 10+ years

SimplySheri
Member

Your Quit Is Not Here

~~You will see me struggle but you will never see me quit.~~  Unknown

You aren't going to find your quit here.  You will find suggestions, advice, encouragement, tips, hints, and information.  But you won't find your quit here.

You aren't going to find your quit in an NRT.  No patch has the answer for you.  No gum takes the challenge from you.

Your quit is within you.  Seriously.  Take time away from the internet, away from well-intentioned friends, away from all the information on why quitting is necessary and good and do-able.

Take time to look within.  Are you willing to stop believing you will fail?  Do you know that quitting is entirely possible AND that you can do it?  Can you acknowledge that it is time to stop setting yourself up to fail and just do it, come hell or high water?  Most importantly, are you willing to undergo anything....absolutely anything....rather than pick up another cigarette?

Because those who are serious about quitting no matter what, will quit.  Those who give themselves an out by doubting themselves, by being worried about failing, by wondering if they are ready, usually don't.

You see, the quit isn't in the NRTs, although they can certainly help the craves.  The quit isn't in the support, although support while quitting can inspire and motivate.  The quit isn't even in this site, although this site is the absolute BEST for information, knowledge, support, and wisdom.

The quit, my friend, is in you.  Only you.  And if you succeed, it's because you wanted to.  And if you return to smoking, it's because you wanted to.  Not something you want to hear, I know.  It's not the stress and it's not the pain and it's not the loss you suffered that returns you to cigarettes, it's you.

So take smoking off the table.  Once you quit, KNOW in your heart that you will never....no matter what....ever pick up another one.  It's there in you where you'll find your quit.  It's through your strength, your commitment, your courage that you will keep your quit.

The NRTs, the EX site, the friendships.....are all for maintaining what you already have inside you.  You are the foundation of your quit.  Know that.  Because once you do, you will find your quit and you will delight in it.  I'm sure of it 🙂 

Tags (1)
104 Replies
Barbscloud
Member

@Ashley1985 Good to hear from you.   Congrats on your continued success as you approach your 4 year milestone.

I agree.  The Ex was instrumental in my quit also.

Barb

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SimplySheri
Member

Ex is helpful but you did the work, Barb.  The quit was in you, not here.  

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Barbscloud
Member

@SimplySheri Yes I did a lot of work,  but I don't agree with that or I would have quit 50 years ago.  Helpful is an understatement.   Support got me started after I picked a quit date when I found the Ex by accident , got me past the first day, the second day and the days to come.  Support taught me I could do this because there was someone I could turn to that would understand and talk me down off the ledge.  I would have fallen off that ledge without the Ex community several times. 

The Power of Support in Quitting Smoking

Barb

Ashley1985
Member

Keep up the good work!!  

dropitnow
Member

Great advice. Thanks for this significant thought shifter.  Tomorrow is day one for me, after umpteen tries over the past few years, and half a century of burning ‘em up. 

CommunityAdmin
Community Manager
Community Manager

@dropitnow Welcome! Excited you're here. And if you feel comfortable, feel free to make your own post to introduce yourself, this is a really supportive community and you can get some suggestions from other people on their quit journeys!

- Danielle, EX Team

EX Community Admin Team
Sillydaisey
Member

This is the truth I needed to hear! To be willing to suffer anything other than smoke….. this is something I will use for my quit. Thank you!

SuzyQ411
Member

Fantastic post @SimplySheri ~ the first time I have seen this, I believe. What you said is what rang true for me. Until I finally and willingly committed to never smoke again -- no matter what-- I was on shaky ground as a serial quitter. I am now 19 months fully clean of all nicotine (including nrt's)  and the mindset shift was crucial for me. And I also get to have all this support, encouragement and education from the EX; how cool is that?

I get so upset every time I quit smoking and fail but I keep telling myself as long as I keep quitting one day it will stick! I have not smoked in 80 days. I will stop quitting! 

Barbscloud
Member

@ernestinefouts2 Support from fellow quitters had made the difference for many of us.  I would never have made it early on without some great quitters supporting me. My quit was here!

Barb