Change: What is the difficulty?

Change is not difficult, it just happens. The difficulty lies in our resistance to change. Resistance can be defined as habits physical, emotional and cognitive. Therefore, the focus needs to be on our habits and not the change we want. Set your goal, but don’t let your goal be the focus, rather focus on the habits that need to be formed in order for the change to have a lasting effect.

You want to quit smoking? Stop focusing on the smoking and quitting and create a body/spirit/mind that doesn't need to smoke. Start exercising regularly, learn to manage stress more effectively, have joy in your life. These are some habits that can help form a solid foundation for letting go of smoking. Prepare the ground and the seed will grow at the appropriate time.

Smoking helps move stuck energy and emotion, that is why we reach for a cigarette when stressed, for example. You still have stress in life, but if you have a healthier ways to manage it, the cigarette will not be your go to method of coping.

Is this simple? It can be or it may not be.

I used to smoke and have off and on in my life since I was 15. When I stopped smoking, and made it last, I was ready for it. I started practicing yoga, hiking, eating more healthy and was seeking support for an emotional state that I wanted to work through, called overwhelm. When I started yoga, I often times would have a cigarette right after class. I would go hiking and often have a cigarette once I reached my destination. It was absurd, but I was doing it. I kept up with my life changes and it took some time, a year possibly. I don't remember. But one day it just let go of me. Since then I have gone back to smoking here and there when having gone through great difficulties, but I've stopped too once I was able to get my footing back on a more solid and healthful ground.