EP35: Disrupting the Pattern of Self-Destruction by Quitting Smoking- Michelle Knutson
You Can Quit SmokingShow Notes
Smoking became a part of Michelle’s social life during her time at boarding school and her youth in Los Angeles. However, after college, the habit shifted into a way for her to turn off her brain, eventually becoming a source of great burden and shame. After many failed attempts to quit, Michelle tried a new approach that allowed her to stop the cycle of self-destruction. She shares how she finally learned to invest in herself and move on from addiction for good
About Michelle: LA-raised and Nashville-based, Michelle is a real estate agent and lifestyle creator sharing her journey across home & design, fashion, wellness, and modern Southern living. Affectionately known as “the Carrie Bradshaw of TikTok,” she brings an honest, humorous, and elevated perspective to her community as she transitions from LA city life to Nashville ranch living.
✨Find Michelle at: https://www.instagram.com/michelleknutson/ https://www.tiktok.com/@michelleknutson
💛 Ready to go deeper? My book, Honor Your Heart, shares the mindset shifts and inner work that helped me finally quit smoking for good. You’ll also find free tools and ways to connect with me right here: 👉 https://www.honoryourheart.net/link-in-bio-podcast *Use code PODCAST at checkout for 15% off.
More from You Can Quit Smoking
Jani didn’t like being addicted to smoking, but found herself trapped in a cycle with it due to many contributing factors of her childhood, neurodivergence, and navigating adulthood in a new country. She struggled to quit, going as long as eight months at time before falling back into the habit from “just having a couple pulls.” Jani finally found her way out by following her heart’s wisdom and soothing her busy mind and hands with artistic expression.
Originally trying to be cool by smoking, Jeannie came to see the habit as anything but. She felt it kept others at a distance and carried deep shame around both the habit and her struggle to quit for good. Though she disliked it, she leaned on smoking as an emotional crutch for years. After a life crisis, Jeannie turned inward and realized the direct link between her self-esteem and smoking. Given the right opportunity, she quit in a deeply meaningful way that ultimately expanded her joy, connection, and presence in life.
Cathy never wanted to think of herself as a smoker yet smoking was a major part of her life. The cognitive dissonance became overwhelming as she joined the composting community and grew increasingly passionate about environmentalism. Realizing it was time to extend that same care to herself, Cathy finally left the habit behind after 30 years. Today, she enjoys life fully completely free from the baggage and shame of being a closet smoker.
Starting young, smoking controlled a significant portion of Adrien’s life. Even after recognizing her struggle, she found it difficult to let go until a pregnancy caused a natural aversion. Yet despite quitting, smoking still held a grip on her freedom, surfacing in distressing nightmares about returning to the habit. It was not until Adrien made an unusual decision that she was finally able to reclaim her power and step fully into her choice to remain smoke-free. Today, she shares her emotional healing abilities with others, supporting them on their own journeys to quit smoking for good.
As a young person, Dawn was surrounded by smokers, so she used it as a way to fit in. But she also noticed that smoking seemed to fill the emptiness she felt within herself. After many attempts to quit, she managed to use a particular situation to finally get to the other side of it. Yet the void remained with her until she followed the guidance of her heart.