WARMING UP: What's your motivation?
Smoking vs. Quitting
You can decide whether your motivation to quit is strong enough by doing this simple exercise. Fold a blank sheet of paper in half. On the left side, list your reasons for smoking. On the right side, list your reasons for quitting.
Now, take a look at what you've written. It doesn't matter how many reasons there are. It only matters how meaningful the reasons are to you. Which side comes out ahead? Are you leaning toward smoking or quitting?
If you're leaning toward smoking.
You may want to give it some more thought. Maybe talk to a friend who used to smoke, and ask why he or she quit. Maybe check out "The Benefits of Quitting" on the next page, and see if any of them can motivate you. You may find a stronger reason to quit that will tip the balance.
If you're leaning toward quitting.
Take a second look at your reasons to quit. Is there one that stands out above the others? What matters most to you? Turn it into a phrase that you can use to remind yourself why you're quitting. For example, "I want to have more energy." Or, "I want to live to see my grandkids get married."
