It may sound harsh, bleak and discouraging, but just like there is no easy way to lose weight or stop drinking; there is no easy way to quit smoking either. It requires a lot of will power, determination, support and luck. This does not mean that it can’t be done. Many people - famous or not - have kicked the habit for good and they never say it was easy, but they all say it was worth the time, money and effort spent on it.

There might be some so-called easy ways to quit smoking out there like miracle pills which are advertised on TV on late night infomercials. But as the saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. If it was that easy to do anything, America would not be grappling with epidemic obesity rates, lung cancer statistics or drunken driver accident reports. If there was an easy way to quit smoking, lose weight or stop drinking, we would all be sober, slim and healthy.

Finding the Right Way to Quit

There may be no one easy way to quit smoking, but there are several methods out there. The success of any to the methods depends on your personality and how committed you are. Are you the type of person who can go cold turkey or do you need to taper it off to get it out of your system? Have you set lofty goals for yourself in the past at school or work and failed or have you put in the extra effort to meet and exceed those goals? Do you prefer to work alone on difficult projects or are you more of a team person?

Do emotional factors like the health of your family affect you? Do financial factors like the cost of cigarettes and the negative effect it is having on the value of your home and car move you? Or does the aesthetics of stinky clothes and yellow teeth make the most difference? The answers to these questions can help you find an easier way to quit smoking and to remain smoke-free for the rest of your life.

If you are a money-minded person, perhaps you can put away the money you spent on cigarettes into a savings account or get yourself something nice like a massage or an iPod instead. If emotions move you, you can place pictures of your young kids on your desk and in your wallet and car so as to remind you not to reach for some smokes again. If you are a people-person, then find a support group and do it together under the guidance f a professional. Regardless of which method you choose, do it for the right reasons and stick to it. Good Luck!