Habits cause the narrowing of other pleasures. At their peak, other pleasures lose their attraction, and the habit becomes one of the few sources of pleasure available.
When we quit we actually gain pleasure instead of losing pleasure. The problem is… for 1,2, or more weeks we will struggle until our mind is right again. But once we get past those few weeks, life starts to get good, and if we keep making positive changes, it will start to get great.
Second, consider making a T chart. Draw a line down the middle of a page and write down the positives of quitting on the right and the negatives on the left.
When quitting we are not losing anything, we are gaining things. Consider saying often:
“Once I get past these first few weeks, my life is really going to improve because of these changes.”
Third, what will I replace this habit with. Consider adding “Reading through the Bible in one year. There are apps, plans online, and Bibles that are set up to tell you how to read the Bible in one year. Consider adding a block of prayer as a replacement.
Fourth, we need spiritual things, and we need practical things as well. Consider going on Google and searching “Hobbies or activities.” You can find a list of hundreds of things to do. Keep in mind, for those first few weeks after quitting, new activities will seem like work. But keep doing them as work until your mind is capable of enjoying normal pleasures again. It will happen, and the more you focus on spiritual things, the faster it will happen.
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