| There are many things that seem keep you from | | | | the new challenges that come with change that drive |
| quitting pot: Social reasons, stress, lack of a plan and | | | | this, instead of thinking about positives we |
| so forth but hiding behind these excuses hides a | | | | subconsciously associate success with all the |
| nasty little devil that we either do not recognize or | | | | problems that might come with it rather than the |
| we do but try to hide him all the same; it is a dirty 4 | | | | positives it will bring. |
| letter word starting with 'F' | | | | Success can also inject a few things into life that |
| That's right ... it is FEAR (what did you think I was | | | | seem scary and can be overwhelming: Will your |
| talking about?) | | | | friends be hateful of your choice? Will you no longer |
| We all like to think we can do what we want but | | | | be able to feel a high? How will you combat stress |
| there are obstacles in our way that stop us when | | | | now? Any of these feel familiar? |
| the reality is that fear plays a much larger part in it | | | | Here are some tips to fight back against this type of |
| that we will care to admit and if you have a been a | | | | fear: |
| long time smoker of marijuana it only intensifies | | | | - Change comes no matter what happens, quit or |
| because the alternative seems to much further | | | | keep smoking change will come so why not quit and |
| away. | | | | face the change with a clear head and a fuller wallet? |
| Most fear is quite subconscious however and usually | | | | - Babe Ruth held the home run record and the |
| shows its influences in the form of procrastination "I | | | | strikeout record simultaneously. Keep swinging for |
| will quit: next week ... after my birthday ... when I | | | | the fences. |
| finish this last bag of weed" etc or more overtly as | | | | - The positives that you get from quitting pot are |
| an imagined obstacle "I can't quit yet I will: lose my | | | | not just the fact you will not be smoking and all that |
| friends ... suffer terrible withdrawals ... lose my | | | | comes with that but it is the drive and determination |
| creativity." etc. In the end though we realize what | | | | and life lessons you will gain from the journey too. |
| must be done it just seems to hard right? | | | | Fear of Social Rejection |
| This is not isolated to quitting marijuana addiction | | | | This can be a part of a fear of success but seems |
| though or even any other addiction but can be | | | | to have a special place for many people looking to |
| applied to so many things in life whenever we need | | | | quit smoking weed. Often your entire circle of friends |
| to embark on something new, a change of lifestyle | | | | may be smokers and the fear of them rejecting |
| or a new project or anything that we can not control | | | | your choices can lead to you feeling like they are |
| the outcome. | | | | rejecting you as a person not just your life decision. |
| The key is to not let it stop you from doing the | | | | So, how do we avoid our fear of social rejection? |
| things you know you have to do! | | | | Some do not do anything and do not even try but |
| Here are a few main ways fear infects you and | | | | this is going to leave you unfulfilled and scared to do |
| stops you quitting the bad habits that are holding you | | | | anything for yourself, so instead these tips may help |
| back and remember that courage is facing fear and | | | | you get over this fear. |
| doing what needs to be done despite of it, it is not | | | | - Remember, you'll never please everyone. Some |
| the absence of fear itself! | | | | people may be supportive and some will never be ... |
| Fear of Failure | | | | who do you want to be your friends anyway? |
| Innumerable psychological studies have shown that | | | | - Your life choices are your own, not theirs and it |
| the fear of failure is the main obstacle to personal | | | | does not reflect on their choices either, if you let |
| success. This is linked closely to self-esteem in that | | | | them know that and do not judge them then they |
| we so closely link any task to our own self worth | | | | have no right to judge you. |
| and so rather than risk possible humiliation we never | | | | Fear of Risk |
| even try ... and if we do try and we do fail it | | | | Like a fear of success this is a fear of the unknown, |
| negatively reinforces it all over again. | | | | it is however more focused on being 'safe'. No one |
| So how do we get over this fear of failure and all | | | | ever got anywhere in life by not taking some risks |
| the negative self worth baggage that comes along | | | | and the same is true of stopping marijuana use |
| with it? | | | | because safety is about the status quo and not |
| - Admit to yourself that you are afraid of failure to | | | | moving out of your comfort zone where everything |
| quit smoking pot. | | | | seems controllable compared to the alternative. |
| - Understand that if you stumble and fail, give in for | | | | Our brains actually are geared this way too which |
| just one smoke etc that it is not the end .. just | | | | makes it doubly hard to beat this fear as we are |
| something to learn from. | | | | hard wired to embrace consistency and familiarity. |
| - Relish the learning experience, and reject the illusion | | | | However better things are only there for those who |
| of humiliation, this can seem hard but once it | | | | seek the unfamiliar. Try to remember these things in |
| becomes an ingrained habit it is a tool you can use | | | | your goals. |
| for everything in life. | | | | - What is the worst that could happen? Will quitting |
| Fear of Success | | | | pot really be that hard or difficult? |
| Why the heck should anyone fear success? If you | | | | - Risk-taking breeds self-confidence. Each step you |
| want to quit smoking marijuana then why would we | | | | take, each day you abstain from smoking will give |
| be afraid of being able to do it? This can be a tricky | | | | you the energy to take the next step, face the next |
| concept and is one of the hardest to puzzle out but | | | | day until you conquer the fear completely |
| basically it is because we are afraid of change and | | | | - Do not over think it! Just do it! |