third person

I want to be supportive. I want everyone to feel good about themselves while struggling with psychological problems, addictions, cravings, and other forms of self-harm, but I just don't grasp why a person cannot simply decide to do something and then do it. You can tell your body to do anything that is physically possible. You can decide to put one leg in front of the other and walk. You can walk out of a casino or betting shop. You can decide to pick up a cigarette or an unhealthy food item or not.You can push the accelerator down further or lift it up and stay within the speed limit.
We have voluntary control over ourselves. When we say we cannot behave as we would like it seems to me that we are really just choosing to behave in a certain way. We do not have to decide to stop smoking. We are actually taking up smoking every time we pick up a cigarette. But we pretend that the choice is not ours. We are merely the third-party victims of  some first person who has control of us.
There is the imaginary creation of a different entity for beliefs and planning on the one hand and actual action on the other. There is a philosophical dichotomy between thought and action, principles and behaviour. Yes, the required behaviour may be uncomfortable for a while but we should be able to tell ourselves to do things that are temporarily uncomfortable for long term gain.
Of course if we have convinced ourselves that we are not in charge then the imaginary monster that controls us will always prevail.

So maybe I should take my own advice and just go to sleep instead of being tired all the time.