Realizing that you are completely responsible for your actions can leave you feeling overwhelmed or even paralyzed at first. You begin to realize that each of your actions has repercussions, and that those repercussions are wildly different than the ones you may have imagined when you acted in the first place. It’s a scary thought. But ultimately, being completely responsible for your actions is empowering. You are the maker of your own destiny. Within certain norms, no one else can tell you what to do. Taking full responsibility for your actions gives you freedom. You begin to understand how habits can be metaphorical chains, and how breaking them can set you free.
Pros: Feeling of calmness and energy from nicotine Helps with short-term stress Opportunity for social ice-breaker Helps me feel stylish Cons: Numerous and damaging long-term health problems Gets very addictive very fast Expensive If abused, cuts my life short by years[3] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
For example, maybe you’re a breakfast skipper. You’re trying to lose weight, so you convince yourself to do it. In the short term, you may drop a couple of pounds and feel better about your body. But in the long run, those pounds are likely to come back (because you’re not dieting properly), and you’re planting the seeds of an eating disorder.
Pay attention to any triggers you may have noticed. For example, perhaps you notice that you tend to smoke cigarettes when you’re with a certain friend and after you’ve had several drinks. You’ve just identified your trigger. If you’re serious about conquering your triggers, talk with your friend. Tell him something like: “Hey, I’m really trying to kick this habit. Next time I try to bum a cigarette from you, will you remind me of this conversation?” Who knows — the friend might even refrain from smoking in front of you entirely!
If you bite your nails or lips and cheeks, try biting on some chewing gum instead. [8] X Research source If you crack your knuckles, try keeping your hands occupied with a squishy ball or practice doodling instead. Get creative with your substitutions! You never know what will or won’t work until you try it.
Smokers, for example, often find that E-cigarettes or nicotine gum do the trick. While neither alternative is without dangers, they’re arguably both better for you than smoking.
Quit smoking cold turkey Quit smoking with e-cigarettes Choose a smoking cessation program Quit smoking with the help of caffeine
Quit drinking with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous How to drink responsibly How to stay sober Tell if you drink too much alcohol
Quit drinking with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous How to drink responsibly How to stay sober Tell if you drink too much alcohol
