Stopping smoking is easy. Loads of people have done it. I've helped loads of people to do it. But the interesting thing is, that not one of them has arrived at my office thinking it's going to be easy.
The biggest barrier to stopping smoking is fear.
The fear has several components:
None of these fears has any substance when you look at it closely, but as a mythical beast - a scary shadow on the wall, they all have tremendous power.
Failure
In most areas of life failure is seen as an opportunity to learn to do it better next time. Smokers tend to see it as the end of life as we know it. Better not to try than to fail. And what will people think. It will be obvious that I've failed.
Pain
There is no clinical evidence for addiction to nicotine. This is a myth. But because the Mind is a powerful beast, it can make an illusion real. If you don't believe me, think of a lemon, think of cutting it in half, think of that lemony smell wafting gently and cleanly into your nostrils, then pick up one of those pieces, open your mouth and squeeze the juice out until it fills your mouth. Now notice the saliva content of your mouth and see if you can maintain your belief that illusion can't have a real physiological effect on your body.
Pleasure
Cigarettes poison your body; increase your blood pressure; increase your likelihood of severe and disabling diseases; reduce your stamina; impair sexual function and pleasure in both males and females; age your skin; and damage your voice box. If this is pleasure