Before you try to quit, it's important to figure out why you want to do this. Here are the basic facts you need to know about motivation.

Motivation is what drives you to do something. For example, feeling tired motivates you to go to bed. Hunger can motivate you to cook a meal. Have you ever felt winded from climbing stairs? Wanting to breathe better is an example of motivation to quit smoking.

Motivation tends to come and go, so you need a plan. Does this sound familiar: "I want to quit, but at the same time cigarettes help me deal with stress"? It's normal to feel pulled in two directions when you're quitting. In fact, many people have mixed feelings, even after they've quit. This is why you need to keep reminding yourself why you're quitting. You also need a specific plan for getting through each of your trigger situations.

Can you do it? Check your motivation. Can you quit smoking? Yes, you can. Everyone has the ability to quit. Imagine this: someone offers you a million dollars to quit smoking. What would you do? For most people, there's no question what they would do. They'd quit. This shows that quitting is about motivation, not ability. Your own individual reason to quit, if strong and specific, can motivate you in the same way.