When I first joined Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), I quickly noticed that while the program focused on quitting alcohol, cigarettes were practically endorsed. You’d see smoke swirling outside meetings, with nearly everyone lighting up. It wasn’t just normal; it was almost expected. Somehow, I bought into the belief that quitting cigarettes was the hardest thing to do—probably because no one in those circles ever seemed to stop. And I absorbed the idea that I would need another program, another crutch like religion, to give me the strength to quit.
But I’m not in AA anymore. Now, I see things differently, and that’s why I’m beginning to challenge these old beliefs. I don’t need to make cigarettes the hardest addiction to quit just because AA implied it. Most people quit smoking on their own, without the need for meetings, higher powers, or deep religious intervention. They don’t turn it into a monumental task; they simply stop. So, why should it be any different for me?
The deeper I reflect on this, the more I realize that a lot of what I believed about quitting came from the culture of dependence fostered in AA. I was led to believe that I was powerless over alcohol, so it wasn’t a stretch to apply the same logic to cigarettes. The idea that I needed a higher power, or some other made-up entity, to help me quit has kept me stuck for years. But what if all I really need is the belief that I can quit on my own?
I’m not saying that quitting smoking is easy, but it’s a lot more realistic for me now to see it as a personal choice—one I can control, not a divine test or a “miracle” waiting to happen. If I change my beliefs from dependence on a higher power to simply trusting in my own ability, I think I’ve already won half the battle. The rest is about staying committed to that belief.
I’m moving away from the idea that addiction needs to be over-complicated or exaggerated. AA had its place in my journey, but when it comes to quitting smoking, I need to reject the notion that it’s beyond my control. I can do this—because the only thing standing between me and quitting is the belief that I can’t. And I’m working on changing that belief every day.
This time, I’m in charge. And I’m confident that, with this mindset, I can quit.
by Dan and Bonkers
SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS NOW!!!
