Smoking is Injurious to Health

Though it is wise to be prepared for all kinds of difficulties, it is equally important to have a positive attitude to keep up your spirits and strengthen your resolve to quit smoking. As the old adage goes ‘Hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.’ You should be aware of the pitfalls but don’t wait for them. Cross the bridge when you come to it. So, in a sense, talking about the possibility of relapses while trying to quit smoking is almost inviting them.

The moral of the story is that if you think of handling 'slips', 'just ones' or any 'accidents' for that matter, you are going to have them. So, don’t plan for slips; you probably won’t allow them. The thought itself is a great morale booster. So, think positive, and cross the bridge when you come to it. On the contrary, planning for moments of weakness demoralizes you quite a bit.

However, it is equally foolish to delude yourself that you cannot go wrong. So, when the slip does happen, chastise yourself until you feel completely guilty. Let the guilt go deep down so that it becomes a loud resisting voice when temptation strikes again. It is for this reason that support groups are recommended. They help you regain strength to overcome such hurdles.

If by chance you have had more than one 'slip' or have repeated 'slips', it is time to be honest with yourself. I know that a lot of people are going to disagree with me on this, but please don't send me any letters because I have probably spoken to more smokers and non-smokers about this subject than most people. My advice is this. Stop trying to fool yourself into thinking that these occasional slips are fine and are just part of the normal quitting process - they aren't!

If you are continually 'slipping' you are doing yourself more harm than good because the 'just ones' are eventually going to turn into what you used to smoke or more. Believe me, it happens every time.

If continual slips are occurring, you are better off to realize what is happening and admit to yourself that you have failed this time. And that's okay, because it is better that you admit it, write this attempt off, and go back to finding the information and incentives you need to quit successfully than to relapse slowly back into oblivion. Better to realize that you have missed your target this time around and get back on a new and better course than to continue on smoking for the next twenty years.