How I quit smoking
And rediscovered myself along the way
In early 2023, I was stuck in a pattern that had haunted me for years — smoking.
It wasn’t just about the nicotine; it was the routine, the comfort, the way it filled empty moments in my life.
But deep down, I knew smoking was holding me back.
If you’ve ever struggled with something you knew was bad for you, you understand the frustration, I’ve been there.
In this story, I’m sharing my journey of breaking free from smoking and how you can conquer the habits that may be holding you back too.
Finding the Courage to Stand Out
The first time I thought seriously about quitting smoking, it wasn’t because of health warnings.
It was the concern I saw in the eyes of people who cared about me.
But more than that, I realized smoking had become a crutch. It was a way to manage stress and avoid facing difficult emotions.
Yet, part of me hesitated, everyone around me smoked, and it felt like I was stepping out of the tribe, going against the grain.
But here’s what I learned: You have to trust yourself.
Breaking away from the crowd can be uncomfortable, but it’s the first step in taking back control of your life.
You don’t need to convince others that your path is right; you just need to start walking it.
Facing the Challenge: Battling Your Own Resistance
Quitting smoking wasn’t easy, and I won’t pretend it was.
Each morning brought new cravings, and my body begged for just one more cigarette, but the hardest part wasn’t the physical withdrawal — it was the mental battle.
Smoking was woven into my routine: morning coffee, stressful meetings, work breaks.
The first few weeks were brutal, I tried substitutes — gum, walks, anything to keep my hands busy — but the real shift came when I accepted that discomfort is part of the process.
There’s no escaping it, but you can learn to sit with it.
One mental trick that worked for me was reframing the discomfort, instead of seeing cravings as something negative, I started to view them as signs of healing.
Each craving was proof that my body was recovering and that I was gaining control.
How You Can Break Free Too
If you’re struggling to break a habit — whether it’s smoking, unhealthy eating, or something else — here are a few key lessons I learned along the way:
- Start with Your “Why”: You need a reason that’s bigger than the habit itself.
For me, it was about living a life that was fully mine, not dictated by a substance.
Ask yourself why you want to change. Dig deep, because when the going gets tough, your “why” will keep you grounded.
- Celebrate Small Wins: The big goal of quitting entirely can feel overwhelming. Instead, celebrate small victories.
One day without indulging? Celebrate it. Two days? Even better.
These small wins build momentum and reinforce your progress.
- Replace, Don’t Just Remove: When you remove a habit, it leaves a void. I found it helpful to replace smoking with something positive.
I took up jogging to fill my mornings, something I’d never done before.
Find a new habit to fill the space left behind.
- Be Kind to Yourself: Slip-ups are part of the process.
When I relapsed one weekend, I felt like I had failed, but I learned that setbacks don’t define you.
They are part of the journey, not the end.
Don’t let a stumble make you feel like you can’t succeed — you can.
Rediscovering Growth by Following Your Own Path
Choosing a path that’s truly yours is empowering.
We live in a world full of messages about what success should look like — climbing the career ladder, following traditional paths, or sticking with habits because everyone else does.
But real growth happens when you challenge the status quo and take the harder road because it’s the right one for you.
For me, quitting smoking wasn’t just about my health.
It was about reclaiming my independence and proving to myself that I was capable of change.
The ripple effects were incredible.
I now have more energy, more mental clarity, and more confidence in my ability to tackle other challenges.
Conclusion
Breaking free from a bad habit is never easy, but it’s possible.
I’m living proof of that.
Whether it’s smoking, procrastination, or another habit holding you back, know that you have the strength to overcome it.
The journey will have its ups and downs, but every step forward is a step toward becoming a better version of yourself.
Start today.
Trust that the discomfort will pass, and on the other side, there’s a version of you that’s stronger, healthier, and more in control.
Your story doesn’t have to be defined by old habits — you can begin writing a new chapter right now.
For more inspiration, check out my story of quitting multiple addictions here.
