The word “try” is TOXIC when related to quitting smoking. If you are only “trying” to quit smoking, continuing to smoke is still an option. Technically, you could quit for 8 hours, return to smoking, and be satisfied with yourself for trying. Trying just isn’t good enough, but it satisfies a logical need to make an attempt.
If you have tried to quit 10 times in the past, then you HAVE QUIT 10 times before! It may have been for an hour or a day, but you were perfect at quitting for a short time. This is the glass-half-full approach. The power of positive thinking!
Most smokers feel uncomfortable if they don’t “try” to quit because they know smoking is a bad idea. A weak effort is better than none at all, but it also lets you off the hook. There is no accountability with “trying” because it leaves the option to smoke.
If you tell a friend that you will try to stop by the party and then don’t make, it’s OK because you left yourself the option to NOT to go. You didn’t commit to it. We understand that you don’t want to let yourself down by committing to quitting if you are unsure of yourself, but we also know it will help to be more committed in your thoughts about it.
“Trying to quit” and “quitting” are VERY different. If you want to be successful with quitting smoking (or vaping, chewing or cigars) please understand the disadvantage you face if you are only “trying.” Every quit attempt is valuable and I am not discouraging you from making a quit attempt; just don’t talk or think about it in those terms.
Nicotine addiction cannot be fixed with words alone. Trying is a natural approach to quitting smoking, and each attempt is valuable to your long-term success (see blog “I’ve tried quitting 50 times”), but recognizing and correcting your words/thoughts can significantly increase your success. Don’t just TRY to quit, DECIDE to quit!
