[B]�Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.� King Whitney Jr.[/b]
I believe these to be stages of change not just 3 different aspects of change that are unrelated.
My quit began with the fear that things would never be normal again without a cigarette, things would be worse. After all, smoking had been a part of every aspect of my life since I was a child (15).
After surviving a few weeks of the quit process I was encouraged that things could get better. Granted this was an emotional rollercoaster and the feeling that things could be better didn�t come to me over night. It was a long, hard journey full of many tough hours.
At this stage of my quit, I can focus on the last portion of this quote. [B] �To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better�.[/b]
Since quitting smoking, my life has become totally different. My non-smoking world is nothing like my smoking world was. The change has been good for me as an individual. I was a bitter smoker who hated the world and didn�t look forward to anything except when my next smoke break was. Honestly, as long as I had my cigarettes, I was fine and could deal with anything that came my way. If someone threatened my addiction, they were the enemy. I am surrounded by non-smokers in my life so I had a lot of enemies who just didn�t understand me at all.
Little did I know that I was not fine; I merely existed. I had a crutch to lean on and a source to hide behind. I didn�t deal with anything. I smoked away whatever challenges came my way. The changes that have occurred during the last seven months are probably the most inspiring changes that have occurred in my life. My journey is no where near over but I no longer fear the changes that are yet to come. I welcome them. I am learning to deal with the ups and downs of life for the first time. I am learning to face the challenges that come my way. I honestly believe that things will only get better. I cannot change the past, but the future is waiting