Chapter 36

WINNERS KNOW HOW TO QUIT

Everyone’s heard the expression, “Quitters never win!” I’d like to play my remix; it’s called “Winners know how to quit!”

                I was inspired with this idea a few years ago, when I decided to quit smoking cigarettes. I never smoked cigarettes hard-core or anything—usually just in the club or while I was driving.

Whenever I would have to do club appearances for the radio station, smoking gave me an easy way out of “fan conversations” that went on a bit too long. When you’re in the public eye, it’s hard to balance doing your job and giving every “fan” the attention they feel they deserve. All it takes is one perceived “blow off,” and you’re a “cocky jerk” in their eyes forever. However, when you’re able to say, “Hey man, I’ve gotta to go smoke this cigarette,” most people tend to not get their feelings hurt.

Being the economically-intelligent (cheap) person I am, I knew I had to kick the habit when I started spending money on cigarettes. Wasting money on drugs was fine (I’ll explain that in Your Truth Will Set You Free), but wasting money on cigarettes was a “no-no.”

When it was time to get real about quitting, I kept thinking about something Dr. Wayne Dyer said: “If you truly want to quit smoking cigarettes, just don’t put cigarettes in your mouth one day at a time.”

Sounded simple enough.

I eventually quit putting cigarettes in my mouth. Every once in a while, when I’m visiting my dad in Virginia, I’ll smoke one with him. I believe in flexibility. Smoke a cigarette every month if you feel the urge. When you tell somebody they can “never do such-and-such ever again!” it usually reinforces their resistance—and they’ll never kick the habit. Of course, each person is different. It’s all about self-control. I’m completely confident in my ability to control any destructive cravings or urges. But please keep in mind, I’ve been working on the cultivation of my inner strength for the past decade. It’s not something that happens overnight; understand your own limits before you try smoking “just one cigarette per month.” If you feel that “one” is going to lead to “just one more,” then you might want to stay away from “just one.”