Tobacco use causes more than 7 million deaths each year worldwide, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And “remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death among both men and women in the U.S.” This statistic is based upon findings published in the American Journal of Public Health.
Tragically, the above statistics are not the only shocking facts about tobacco use. For every one person who dies from smoking, 30 additional people live with debilitating illnesses that have been caused by it. Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body, resulting in smokers dying ten years earlier than nonsmokers, on average. The CDC makes these, and many more sobering statistics available to the public here.
Decades of scientific research have proven how detrimental tobacco use is to our physical and mental health. But knowing how dangerous your use is doesn’t always make quitting any more comfortable. This is because nicotine is the fourth most addictive drug, reports the American Addiction Centers. With cocaine, heroin, and alcohol being the only drugs that are more addictive than nicotine.
Because of its addictive properties, many people who successfully quit smoking have tried to quit at least once before, unsuccessfully. Previous attempts to quit smoking should not be looked at as a failure. Any attempt you’ve made to quit should be regarded as a learning experience. There are many things you can do to help you succeed during your journey to giving up this harmful substance. Reading inspirational quotes is one thing that can be incredibly helpful and motivating in overcoming difficult situations, including addiction. You will find 15 inspirational quotes that can be particularly helpful in motivating you to quit using tobacco, below.
15 INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES TO MOTIVATE YOU TO QUIT USING TOBACCO
1) Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently. – Henry Ford
Every time you attempt to quit using any substance, you are learning what strategies do and do not work for you. Therefore, every effort that you make in your attempt to quit is progress made toward your overall goal. Even if, or when you fail to quit, you are still learning. Next time you try, you will be a wiser version of yourself, which can lead to a better outcome. The most important part is that you never give up.
2) All that we are is the result of what we have thought. – Buddha
Most of us have heard of the beneficial powers of positive thinking, but do all of us believe in it? The power of positivity is a genuine and factual phenomenon that has been documented by many scientific studies. Each of our thoughts has an impact on our reality, for better or worse. And if you think positively, you are much more likely to succeed. Check out the details surrounding this water experiment that proves that positive thinking works!
3) Our strength grows out of our weakness. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
You will become a much stronger and wiser individual by overcoming your addiction to and dependence on any harmful substance. Once you have successfully quit, you will likely feel stronger than ever, both physically and mentally. You will evolve into a person who knows just how capable you are and doesn’t forget what you have overcome. Equally as great is the fact that you will be able to help others to succeed in quitting dangerous habits. Simply by sharing with them the things that you learned along the way.
4) The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind. – William James
If you believe that you can be successful in quitting tobacco, then the chances are much better that you will be. So let your mind lead you down the path of success by allowing yourself to believe that you can do this. Because you can. Your attitude has a huge impact on your reality and also your health, both physically and mentally. Having a positive attitude can help you tremendously in bettering your chances of success.
5) We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. – Aristotle
You become dependent on any substance by using it habitually. And you can free yourself of your dependence by creating new, healthier habits to take its place. There are many healthy habits that you can develop to help you overcome a bad habit. You could try listening to your favorite music, dancing, doing any exercise, or meditation. Even reading a self-help book or article in place of your tobacco use might be beneficial to you. Whatever healthy habits you choose, when done consistently, can replace unhealthy habits over time.
6) The surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed. – Richard Brinsley Sheridan
To accomplish anything in life, you must first believe in yourself. Self-confidence is one of the main components of success. If you believe in your ability to do something, you won’t let the little things deter you from succeeding. Setting specific, measurable, and time-bound goals can also help you to succeed and keep you motivated by tracking your progress.
7) Keep your eye on the prize. – Pete Seeger
To keep your eye on the prize means to remain focused on the goal at hand. This effort involves not allowing yourself to become overwhelmed or distracted by setbacks or difficulties. You may very likely encounter setbacks along the way to your goal. But you cannot let them get to you in ways that make you give up. Never forget how great it will feel and how much healthier you will be when you succeed. Remember always to keep the focus on the many benefits of quitting nicotine. These are some of the countless amazing prizes that you can “keep your eye on” during the process of quitting. Save this list somewhere where you can look at it if you need a reminder when quitting feels too difficult.
8) Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome. – Samuel Johnson
Excuses are the killer of all success. We’ve all made them. They might sound something like the following: “My life is too stressful to do this right now.” Or, “But what if I gain a lot of weight when I quit, that’s unhealthy too.” Or, “I will be more motivated and likely to quit if I wait until the New Year … or after this or that happens.” You’ll always be able to think of a reason why today is not the best day to quit. The truth is there is no such thing as the perfect day to quit. And there will never be a better day than today to begin. Because one thing is certain, you cannot succeed if you never start. And you cannot start if you’re busy thinking up excuses for why now isn’t a good time, instead of trying.
9) We cannot, in a moment, get rid of habits of a lifetime. – Mahatma Gandhi
Quitting anything, especially something that is extremely addictive, takes time. You didn’t become addicted to nicotine overnight. And unfortunately, you cannot rid yourself of your desire for it overnight, either. It will take time. Maybe even failure. But if you stick to it and keep trying, you will eventually succeed. Recent longitudinal research revealed that it could take at least 30 attempts for a person to succeed in quitting smoking. There are things you can do to aid in your recovery, however. For example, you should remind yourself that the small steps you are taking now will lead you to a healthier, longer life.
10) The true face of smoking is a disease, death, and horror – not the glamor and sophistication the pushers in the tobacco industry try to portray. – David Byrne
The deceitful companies that supply the world with these deadly substances spent $9.5 billion on promotional and advertising efforts in 2016. And this is in the U.S., alone, according to statistics published by the CDC. Please do not be fooled by their lies. These companies make an obscene amount of money by tricking people into believing smoking will somehow improve their lives. The top six corporations that distribute tobacco products made $31.5 billion in 2010, reports the Maurer Foundation. And again, that is only in the U.S. The numbers are larger when discussing worldwide consumption. These companies spend billions of dollars to try to convince you that smoking is glamorous. But as we know, it kills 7 million people each year and leaves countless others with lifelong medical conditions. Don’t let these drug pushers win. You can take a stand against them by quitting today.
11) It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. – Confucius
Many people might be intimidated by the thought of quitting tobacco or anything all at once. And quitting smoking cold turkey may not be the best option for everyone. Thankfully some many options and methods can lead to success. Whether that be tapering off slowly or using nicotine patches or gum. There are even several prescription medications that might be able to assist you in quitting. You have options. The most important thing is that you start trying to quit. And do not stop until you succeed, no matter how slowly you may be going.
12) It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer. – Albert Einstein
Everyone who has succeeded at anything in life didn’t succeed because they were smarter or better equipped than anyone else. They managed because they stuck with their efforts to succeed. No matter how significant their obstacles to success may have been, they didn’t give up. And that is what separates those who succeed from those who do not. You have within you all of the power and strength that you need to quit. One of the most significant components of success is merely sticking to your plan. No matter what.
13) At least three times every day take a moment and ask yourself what is really important. Have the wisdom and the courage to build your life around your answer. – Lee Jampolsky
Take some time to think deeply about what truly matters to you in life and what you’d like to accomplish. You can even write some of your thoughts and goals down. Then compare these to what using this pricey and often deadly substance costs you, both monetarily and in terms of your health. Truly contemplate just how much your use takes away from you, and can hinder you in life. If you’re struggling to quit, you can look at this list to remember what is truly important to you. And to remind yourself why you want to stop.
14) Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire, which transcends everything. – Napoleon Hill
The only way to succeed at something is to want it, more than you want anything else truly. Including the temporary relief that smoking may provide you with. When it becomes difficult to remember why you are trying to quit, think of all that you will gain by doing so. Are the few minutes of relief that you may get from smoking, vaping, or chewing worth sacrificing countless other things?
15) What we can or cannot do, what we consider possible or impossible, is rarely a function of our true capability. It is more likely a function of our beliefs about who we are. – Anthony Robbins
Often, people will not even attempt to quit something because they convince themselves that they cannot do it. Maybe you’ve convinced yourself that you are not strong enough or capable enough to stop. I can promise you that this is not the case. You are strong enough and more than capable of doing anything you set your mind to. Someone once said, “It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not” (– Unknown). If you find yourself having doubts, I hope that you will re-read this quote and all of the above. And remember, you’ve got this!
FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES TO MOTIVATE YOU TO QUIT USING TOBACCO
Quitting anything can be incredibly difficult. Quitting your use of one of the most addictive substances in the world is undoubtedly tricky. It will take time. But with determination, you can do anything. It may be helpful to understand that regaining your health might not be a sprint. It may very well be more like a marathon instead. I hope that when quitting feels too hard, you’ll remember that you deserve this. You deserve to be rid of the many health risks that smoking and other forms of use present. And your loved ones deserve to have you in their lives and not lose you to a deadly substance.
Like quitting anything else, this can only be done one step at a time, one day at a time. You might have days that are harder than others or in which you backtrack a bit. You might even have to try to quit more than once to reach full success. That is okay and quite common, in fact. You are only human, after all. No one requires perfection from you in this, and you shouldn’t expect perfection from yourself. As long as you keep working toward your goal and remember why you began in the first place, you will get there.
It is our hope here at the Power of Positivity to help every person to succeed in living their very best life. We hope that these inspirational quotes and sobering statistics have helped inspire you to quit. Your life and health are of great importance and matter immensely, to you and to those who love you.
And the great news is if you quit today, your organs can make a full recovery! Your lungs will begin to clear, and you’ll regain stamina after you quit this substance. Don’t give up! You can cut the ties on your tobacco dependency!
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