Research tells us that 70% of the people who use tobacco products would like to stop using. If you are in this majority, what are your thoughts about stopping smoking (or use of any tobacco products)?
Let’s break it down into three questions:
- Wanting to Quit – On a scale of 1 – 10, how much do you want to stop using tobacco? You can be anywhere on this continuum, there is no right or wrong answer, simply where you are right now in your life. And your answer may change several times a day. Let’s say you are between 1 – 5 in wanting to quit. What keeps you from being a 10? What would need to happen for you to be higher than a 5? Taking a moment to write a few short notes about your responses gives you something to compare to in the coming days.
- How confident (how able) you are to be successful in quitting long term? Try putting this on a 1 – 10 scale as well. Maybe you noted that you are a 3 in confidence today (it may be more or even less at a different hour today). Perhaps you feel 90% confident that you can make this lifestyle change. Write down how you arrived at your number and what needs to happen in your life to feel more confident.
- How much do you deserve to live a more healthful and tobacco-free life? Placing this response on the continuum gives you a picture of where you currently are in readiness to quit, where you are feeling strong, where you need more preparation, and how to be successful in your quest.
It is hard to go somewhere if you don’t know where you are and where you want to go. You can get unstuck by answering the three questions above and by thinking about what needs to change so you can make progress toward your goal.
The next topic will ask you to list your strivings – what is important to you in your life and what do want to accomplish in your lifetime? Perhaps you want to start on this list now!
