It has been said that people stop smoking just before they are successful. There may be challenges along the way to achieving your goal, but if you give up before you get there, you’ll never know if you could have made it or not.

A goal was never achieved without some struggles. The first thing you want to do is accept that fact. Once you achieve your goal, you will easily forget all the challenges and problems that beset you along the way. You will only feel a sense of satisfaction and pride for having endured and having achieved the goal.

If you find yourself wanting to quit on the way to achieving your goal, take another look at your goal. Is this something you still want to have in your life? If so, maybe you need to write a smaller goal to help you get there. Or maybe you need to stop giving yourself such a hard time and realize that you’re on the right track but you just ran into some challenges.

Are you holding the context that “quitting is not an option”? When we maintain this context, we are less likely to give up and when challenges arise, we will find solutions to problems. If quitting is always an option for you, then you will never achieve your dreams or goals. Quitting smoking is easy; doing the hard work, overcoming challenges, seeking help with problems, and getting support may not be easy, but it’s worth it.

When you write your goal, you may want to write a non-waiver clause in the goal and give yourself some solutions when that occurs to you. Maybe you need to get back to work on the timeline or give yourself a break. If you’re under a lot of pressure and all you’re doing is working toward the goal, you can overwork yourself and add more stress. Find some time to play. Go for a walk with a friend. Read a good book. Or watch a movie. Giving yourself a break from your tasks is a great way to recharge your batteries and give yourself some time to reacquaint yourself with your goal and why you want to achieve it.

Remember that if quitting is not an option, you will find solutions. Don’t forget to ask friends and family for help. If they know what you want to achieve, they will be more willing to give you support and encouragement. And who doesn’t need a cheerleader in their life?