I quit a year ago

[Diligent Bhikkhu]

I tried so many times, and it was always so hard... Even asked my priest to read me some prayers to help me get rid of that vice. Until I found the book I downloaded free from net, printed it out on my printer, read the book and afterward I DIDN'T FEEL THE NEED TO SMOKE ANYMORE !!! It is Allen Carr's Easyway to Stop Smoking. You can google it out, completly free.

Since it is in english, I bought 2 originals in bookstore in my native language (serbian), just to pass them around to friends. Everyone who read the book has quit smoking. Some of them (who probably didn't want to quit btw.) said things like: "I tried to read, but...", "Yes, but I can't stop right now because of...", etc. Like you supposed, just thinking up the reasons. In my country there's still almost 50% population smoking.

The book is written by an ex-smoker who explains and reveals real reason why one smokes and why it's so hard to quit. He started great fight against tobacco industry, but being passed away, we are here to continue his task, for the wellbeing of all people (us and those around us). It's the least we can do. You'll wonder how it was easy. God is with you! Go!

 

[007Michael]

I'm happy for you. I read the book several times myself but it didn't work for me unfortunately.

 

[Diligent Bhikkhu]

Well, it's ok! The worst thing you could do is to stop trying. I think it is important to decide that and to accept yourself, you fall then stand up, fall again, then stand up... knowing every time that you're nearer and nearer; until you decide to quit, with a thought in your head: "I'm quitting NOW and I'll never take this @$%&$ in my mouth again!"
With that attitude you should be ready when it comes to final quitting. I prepared myself to be nervous and to have strange feelings and pains over my body. But, this time it was different: because of full understanding of the processes going on in my body, those feelings I didn't feel like something negative - those were the signs of my body telling me that it is cleaning itself from poison and toxins. Every time I felt some pain I knew that toxins (nicotine) are leaving that part of my body and that the body is healing itself. When I felt nervous, I knew that it was illness I am recovering from and that it will pass; with every moment I was healthier and closer to goal.
It is interesting that those feelings in the previous attempts of quitting I interpreted as something negative, but the last time I felt fairly good feeling all those sensations. I guess that through many attempts I developed different attitude towards them, accepting them when they arise and just watching them disappear.
My father and my wife had quit before me, and that was very good motive for me.

I hope I helped at least a bit. Greetings from Milos, Serbia!