You Can Quit Smoking

Starting smoking when she joined the military made sense to Akeelah at the time. But over the years, it became entirely at odds with the healthy lifestyle that she and her family wanted for her. When Akeelah started medication to assist her with quitting smoking, she actually found herself hoping for side effects just so she would have a valid excuse to go back to it. But the pressure of sharing h...

Trevor grew up around smoking and picked up the habit with friends in his youth. Smoking weaved its way into many phases of his life, from his time in the military to his years as a musician, but it seemed to fit less with his work as a comedian. Trevor tried many avenues to quit, but ultimately, it was his partner’s health that motivated him to go cold turkey and stay with it.  About Trevor: Trev...

Riley took a unique path to quitting vaping by using breathwork to connect to his breathing patterns and regulate himself. Before then, he had made many attempts to quit, but his irritability and anxiety would get the best of him. Through quitting, Riley’s view of himself has completely changed, and he is deeply connected to his health, his family, and the gift of his breath.  About Riley: Breathw...

Peter started smoking as a kid during a time when it was still widely accepted. As an adult, he became increasingly aware of the smell and made a few half-hearted attempts to stop. But everything changed when he found his true motivation to quit: he didn’t want to be a smoking parent. Though it was a rough transition, Peter's resolve actually deepened after he slipped and tried "just one...

Sarah started smoking and noticed right away that it allowed her to feel less deeply. Later, she made the switch to vaping, a habit she genuinely enjoyed and had no desire to give up. But after experiencing a profound spiritual awakening, she developed a deeper awareness of her body and decided it was finally time to listen to its messages. Instead of fighting herself, Sarah used identity work to...

James was exposed to smoke his whole life and did not see a clear need to quit. While he had made a few half-hearted attempts in the past, nothing seemed to stick. That changed when a major financial circumstance presented a stark choice in his budget: continue buying cigarettes or purchase a home. After choosing to quit for good and navigating the initial struggle, James found himself incredibly...

Kimberly turned to smoking as a kid just trying to fit in. When it came time to break the habit years later, she realized that quitting required looking backward. While the process was not easy, Kimberly found a mix of practical tools and deep internal strategies to get her through the hurdle. Even while being constantly surrounded by other smokers, she managed to stay true to her path. Kimberly s...

Smoking became Alex’s necessary crutch after she achieved sobriety from drugs and alcohol. Eventually, she transitioned to a heavy vaping habit that took over her life. She never went anywhere without her vape; it was a constant throughout her day. Though she was once vehemently against quitting, a turn of events gave her the push she needed. Alex shares how she overcame the habit to gain a level...

For over thirty years LaShaun lived with an unknown heart condition that was worsened by smoking. While he had considered quitting, many times, especially as an athlete, he wasn't able to stick with it until - he had a heart attack alone in the middle of the night. LaShaun entirely changed his lifestyle and while he cannot undo his earlier choices in life, now chooses to prioritize his health...

As a kid, Frank thought that smoking looked cool. He didn’t see it as holding him back but there were times in his life where he was smoking up to five packs a day. Frank didn’t want to quit smoking but a life circumstance put him in a place to either choose smoking or his loved ones. Now Frank is happy he chose love and while he did navigate some difficult realizations in quitting, he can now fac...

Jenessa took to smoking as she entered high school. She used it throughout her adult life in tandem with an alcohol addiction to cope with trauma and an unhappy life. Finally, Jenessa refused to listen to the excuses and underwent a healing journey. Now in alignment with herself and with a strong spiritual connection, Jenessa doesn’t crave smoking at all and enjoys the freedom of being smoke-free....

Although Janie had a rough introduction to smoking, she still found herself caught in the habit years later. Eventually she switched to vaping, but she found herself turning to nicotine even more frequently, relying on it heavily through many hard changes in her life. A combination of newfound inner work and the right opportunity led Janie to quit once and for all. ✨Find Janie at: Instagram @jani...

Lisa sought comfort in smoking, even as she tried to maintain control by setting strict boundaries around the habit. Lisa realized that smoking was impacting the things she loved most, including her passion for dancing, but she still struggled to let the habit go. After working on healing, she made a firm decision to quit once and for all. By combining inner reflection with practical lifestyle cha...

Smoking was a way for Danielle to fit in and bond with others in high school. But things changed in her work life as an adult where Danielle was relying on cigarettes as a coping mechanism for stress and anxiety. Through getting help and inner work, Danielle found regulation to where smoking wasn’t something she needed or wanted anymore.  About Danielle: Danielle Zilg is a Marriage and Family Ther...

Amani tried smoking weed in college and over time it became a big part of her life, particularly as part of her creative process in making music. But things reached a point where she was relying heavily on smoking to suppress unwanted emotions. She obeyed the calling from her intuition to live a sober life where she could live freely as the best version of herself. Amani loves to share positivity...

Julieta reached out to smoking as a young person looking for a way to soothe herself and gain a sense of belonging. The habit became deeply intertwined with her identity, from her family dynamics to her professional life as an adult. However, as cultural norms and her own relationships shifted, she found herself an outsider because of her smoking. She chose to quit smoking and continues to grow th...

William turned to cannabis as a habit during a stressful time in his life. While in the beginning he found connection, creativity, and new insights, over time he found himself forming an identity and way of life that was negatively affecting his health. William listened to his inner call to a new way of living, and while it was a struggle, he found his way to discovering his true self, a deeper em...

Tracy started smoking at just 5 years old, making it a long-term habit that spanned decades. After a sudden life event forced him to rethink his future, he decided it was finally time to move on. Tracy utilized an unconventional, herbalist approach to navigate the quitting process, finding a unique path that allowed him to stop for good.  About Tracy: Tracy Mitchell is a holistic health practition...

Emily started smoking at a young age and it quickly became attached to her identity as a writer. Eventually she reached her limit and quit, using fear as her primary motivation. Emily still has occasional cravings but shares with us how self-talk and connecting with others has solidified her choice to remain smoke free. About Emily: Emily Andrews is a writer from Northern Ontario, Canada with a BA...

Connie grew up around smokers, but as an adult, she realized the habit wasn't something she actually enjoyed. When she sought treatment for other addictions, she found herself smoking as a way to connect with others in her outpatient program. Eventually, Connie returned to her core values to move past addiction and get the support she needed to change established self-destructive and avoidance...

Caren formed a strong identity around her smoking habit over many years. After a sudden change occurred in her life, she realized it was time to move on. Although the transition was uncomfortable and required commitment, Caren found her way to a new identity and continues to evolve. Many new adventures and opportunities opened up for her once she made the firm decision to quit smoking once and for...

Smoking became a part of Michelle’s social life during her time at boarding school and her youth in Los Angeles. However, after college, the habit shifted into a way for her to turn off her brain, eventually becoming a source of great burden and shame. After many failed attempts to quit, Michelle tried a new approach that allowed her to stop the cycle of self-destruction. She shares how she finall...

Stephen picked up smoking while studying abroad in France, and it soon became a regular part of his life. Despite his medical background and his passion for martial arts, he found himself stuck in a cycle with smoking he couldn't quite beat. It was not until he was faced with a specific reality-check that he was able to put the habit behind him for good and enjoy a life with less stress and mo...

Marijuana was once the dominant factor in Marika’s lifestyle and social landscape. Over time, she noticed that smoking no longer felt good, yet she continued to ignore the signs until a specific discovery clearly showed the negative impact marijuana was having on her health. Marika shares how she worked through her underlying psychological patterns and developed self-care practices to wean herself...

Sara came into smoking as a young person and took the habit on as part of her “cool” identity. As time went on, smoking became part of her way to cope with anxiety and to manage her household. It got to the point where Sara wanted to clear the haze and commit to being fully present for herself and her family. Moving on from marijuana was a challenge but Sara explains the specific mindset and suppo...