Having listened to a cracking motivational talk last week by Dr. Alan Curley, PhD - regarding helping ourselves to become motivated in our work, I learnt quite a lot listening to him.
Alan shared with us the story about the Chinese Bamboo Tree and how that for most smokers wanting to stop smoking, their journey kind of works in a similar way to the growth of this amazing tree 
First of all the seed or the idea of stopping smoking is planted. Sometimes very little thought can go into it at this time but as the ups and downs of the journey begin, many lessons are learn along the way which can all be part of the 'nurturing' period
How many of you have tried to stop smoking on more than one occasion? Maybe this is your umpteenth attempt 
You can try, try and try again and quite often go back to smoking and feeling like you have had another failed attempt 
Well no you haven't... This is another unseen way that you are nurturing your own 'Bamboo Tree' 
Sometimes it may seem that you have tried for a matter of days, weeks, months or even years and then the penny suddenly seems to drop and there you have it, you crack the stopping smoking challenge
Maybe it has taken everything that you have been through and learnt along your stopping smoking journey to bring about the blossom of your Bamboo Tree
So, try not to become too discouraged throughout your journey - you will get there in the end as long as you keep on at it
Becoming discouraged is the hard part for many. We get so excited about the idea that’s been planted inside of us that we simply can’t wait for it to blossom. Therefore, within days or weeks of the initial planting, we become discouraged and begin to second guess ourselves.
I've had a little bit of a Google on the story of the Bamboo Tree and also found the following;
Sometimes, in our doubt, we dig up our seed and plant it elsewhere, in hopes that it will quickly rise in more fertile ground. We see this very often in people who change jobs every year or so. We also see it in people who change churches, organizations and even spouses in the pursuit of greener pastures. More often than not, these people are greatly disappointed when their tree doesn’t grow any faster in the new location.
Other times, people will water the ground for a time but then, quickly become discouraged. They start to wonder if it’s worth all of the effort. This is particularly true when they see their neighbours having success with other trees. They start to think, “What am I doing trying to grow a bamboo tree? If I had planted a lemon tree, I’d have a few lemons by now.” These are the people who return to their old jobs and their old ways. They walk away from their dream in exchange for a “sure thing.”
Sadly, what they fail to realise is that pursuing your dream is a sure thing if you just don’t give up. So long as you keep watering and fertilizing your dream, it will come to fruition. It may take weeks. It may take months. It may even take years, but eventually, the roots will take hold and your tree will grow. And when it does, it will grow in remarkable ways.
Unable to stop smoking
Is the problem stopping smoking, or is it just me?
Stop smoking nurse delighted with me so far