Part 1: Getting Ready for Liftoff

You may be reading this book because someone else wants you to. Maybe your spouse or other family member is worried about your health. Or maybe your employer is worried about rising healthcare costs. Maybe you’re just checking out some facts to decide if you want to quit.

Whatever brought you here, we’re glad it did. Even if you’re here for somebody else’s reasons, maybe we can give you something to think about,  for your family, your employer, and for yourself.

How do you feel about tobacco/nicotine?

Tobacco/nicotine may have been part of your life for a long time. It may have even helped you get through some stressful times.

There are many common reasons for continuing to use tobacco/nicotine. Can you relate to some of these?

•  Quitting is just not a priority for me right now.

•  My friends all do it, so quitting would affect my social life.

•  The ritual is familiar and comfortable.

•  I don’t like how my body feels when I stop.

•  Tobacco is like a “friend.” It’s always there when I need it.

•  I tried before and failed — I don’t want to fail again.

Understanding why you aren’t ready to start can help you know what to think about or work on for a future quit attempt. You can learn different ways to think about these barriers and ways to break them down.

It is important to understand what comes with using tobacco/nicotine. While it may be easier to deny the health issues that can come with tobacco/nicotine use, you owe it to yourself to know what you’re getting into.

Many people start in this stage, but over time move to thinking about quitting. However, change truly is your choice.