When temptation strikes, deferring that temptation is an act of will. Saying "not yet" and "not now" doesn't make it any easier and feels no different from "no"

When temptation strikes, deferring that temptation is an act of will. Saying "not yet" and "not now" doesn't make it any easier and feels no different from "no" to the part of your brain that's craving it. Most people have to have that cigarette/drug/etc right away, present conditions be damned. Distancing one's mind from the strong craving requires immense self-control as it's very uncomfortable, perhaps even painful, to do so. You need another tool. Often people use distraction, look over here at this shiny thing. Perhaps this is what you used, if you think back on your experience. Distraction is essentially a type of substitution.