Do you ever wonder why some people can just walk away from smoking as if it were the easiest thing to do? Then others spend lifetimes struggling even to cut back. There are a couple of common reasons that it may seem easy for some to quit when it feels difficult to others.
Hormone Shifts
Hormonal shifts can cause a perfect storm in the body to prepare it for change. These shifts may be caused by puberty, pregnancy, or even middle-age changes. The most common of these that affect smoking is pregnancy. It is far more common than I expected to see women just walk away from cigarettes during pregnancy. Part of this has to do with the belief that smoking will harm their unborn baby, but the other part is the hormone changes within the body. It primes the woman for changes to come, and BOY DO THEY. However, once things shift back to normal, the pregnant woman goes back to smoking more often than not. This return to smoking has more to do with personal beliefs; these hormone shifts can cause them to quit smoking permanently.
Highly Charged Emotional Moments
Sometimes there are events in life that can cause someone to make a MAJOR change. I had a buddy who quit drinking, quit smoking, started running, and lost a ton of weight. His cause was a divorce which rocked his world to the core. When we are in these highly charged times in our lives, we are printed to make changes, either positive or negative. In his case, he chose to make strong and wise choices to better himself. But this vulnerable moment could have just as likely driven him deeper into his habits and further into that pit.
A major shift in beliefs
Education isn’t enough; if it were, there would be very few smokers in this world. But a major shift in beliefs, perhaps a new religion or a core change to self, can cause these kinds of changes in someone’s life. Belief is one of the strongest proponents of change we have. But it’s not easy to simply have a ‘major shift of beliefs.’ But it can be enough to cause significant changes in a person.
Hypnosis
Frankly, someone you see walking away free and clear may have undergone hypnosis. Hypnosis is one of the best methods for quitting smoking. You may not like this, but withdrawal symptoms are all part of your beliefs. You can walk away free and clear, never to go back to smoking!
If you are ready to make that kind of change, feel free to reach out and start that conversation. You have the ability to change; staying stagnant can requires more effort.