8 Months Smoke Free
My journey to remain smoke free has been difficult at times, challenging to say the least after rotator cuff surgery, and almost impossible when I nostalgically looked back and romanced the cigarette. This accomplishment is not mine alone, it belongs to you also. It was your personal stories and words of encouragement that helped me achieve this milestone, Thank you. Being challenged by cigarette craving to smoke again is inevitable, being defeated is optional.
What a great achievement Battle won, its easy to give in to the cravings at times because you think that you are depriving yourself, when in truth you are denying the Nicotine Monster who is yapping at you constantly whilst you think you deserve to celebrate with a cigarette, after a huge struggle in your life.
Many of us have given ourselves a cigarette as a reward after a job well done,when in fact we now know that we are giving ourselves more trouble to deal with instead.
I hope you have decided on a great reward outside of smoking for reaching this milestone, so that we can maybe evaluate what we, who have not reached this yet can work towards.
Thank You for your remarks Softly 40, and congratulations are in order to you for achieving your 6 month milestone.
Hi Softly40, in response to your question. Most of life’s struggles are won or lost in the mind and smoking is no different, the physical and psychological symptoms of withdrawal is powerful and inevitable but defeat is optional. As former smokers we have a tendency to focus to much on the symptoms of withdrawal, and give little thought to the strength of “will” it took to bring us to this successful point in our quit. Our mind is the strongest ally we have in this battle to remain smoke free, when we feed it positive affirmation than the once impossible dream of becoming an ex-smoker is now possible.
Thanks Battle won, yes my belief system needed work throughout this final journey and this forum has helped me to achieve this small yet promising outcome. I am sure I will get to 8 months but I still need to remain vigilant in my approach to this. I am doing very well in my life at present and have done very well in the past, but for some reason this last challenge of remaining a non smoker hasn't always worked for me. I will be continuing on with positive affirmations regardless of what life throws at me. Thanks for posting
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Good to see that you are still going strong Battle won. I like you, will always remember that the battle is won in the mind. Positive thoughts and actions will get you through this journey sooner or later. It is a lot easier working with your mind rather than fighting it constantly. Great job and keep on winning this challenge. It is so worth it.
Robin and Happiness thank you for your comments, and congratulations on progress you’ve made Remaining nicotine free. Your journey to freedom is posted on this site as a road map to freedom we all can learn from, but it’s more then that, one thing that I appreciate most about you two ladies is your willingness to reach back to help others who might be struggling, a big thank you from someone you have help.
Safe2017 888 days nicotine free, I’m impressed my friend now you really give me something to shoot for. I’m inspired by your journey Safe2017 keep posting, keep encouraging us as we strive to one day be where you are.
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My pleasure Battle won. I enjoy what i do, and if it helps someone as intended then i am pleased. Your success is my success and my success was some elses..... and so it goes on. Happy stories help generate more dopamine, so keep the good stories coming.......
Battle won thanks for your reply. Only a former smoker can understand all the trials and tribulations of becoming a non smoker no matter how long ago one quits. Always have to be vigilant and practice NOPE - not one puff ever. It's too easy to become complacent, have one puff and be back at squire one wondering once again why it's so difficult to quit. Been there, done that, never again. Keep posting about you progress cause we are all in the same boat. Sending strength and perseverance your way. Cheers.
Thank You Nuts for your support, it’s good to hear from you. This 8th month milestone is a victory we share together, we however must continue to stay vigilant my friend because nicotine cravings is a relentless enemy. We don’t run from cravings we in brace the reality of this process that all former smokers go through, failure for you and I is not an option.
When I reach quadruple digits I expect you Battle_won to be celebrating being one year smoke free.