Should I give up? How to know when quitting may be the best thing you ever do

My entire childhood was spent being told that being a “quitter” was one of the most awful things you could do. Those who saw you as giving up implied that your character was flawed, weak, incompetent, or lazy. 

Leaving a sport you’ve signed up for? It couldn’t be done. Quitting a marriage you committed yourself to? It was viewed as destroying the family. Whatever happened, we were told to keep trying.

They were all attempting to teach particular ideals in us, such as work ethic, tenacity, resilience, and devotion. However, the manner in which these ideals were instilled in us taught us remorse, humiliation, and a persistent inability to go on even when we should have. It can be difficult for many of us who grew up with this message to quit without feeling like a total failure.

But who said resigning was a failure? That’s the point: for a long time, everyone did. And the message is still there. It is still available. It pervades our workplace culture, our educational system, and even our households. Never give up. But what if there’s a compelling cause to do so?

How do you know when it’s time to give up?

1) Trying to solve a problem consumes all of your time and attention.

If you feel that you’re not living life to the fullest because you can’t stop thinking about your position, it’s time to examine why you keep trying.

I became so consumed by my desire to better my marriage that I neglected my friends, family, and career. Do not allow this to happen to you.

Working toward a worthy objective should be exhilarating and thrilling. Lack of enthusiasm for getting what you think you desire indicates that you’ve grown accustomed to striving but never arriving. It’s “what you do,” and this routine isn’t working for you.

You can also be excusing an unpleasant situation in the name of psychological comfort. Fear of the unknown or of offending others may be the actual motivator of your efforts, since perceived safety and popularity are reassuring.

What would your life look like if you gave up trying? Take note of the first emotion that arises when you ask this question. A sense of liberation or excitement indicates that you are ready to give up.

2) You cannot envision a positive outcome.

You will destroy your own efforts if you continue to work for a goal that appears to be an impossible dream to achieve.

Consider your goal’s realization in detail in a peaceful spot. Can you visualize a solution to your problem? Can you imagine yourself achieving and feeling good about it? If not, you should reconsider your dedication to the aim.

When I fantasized about a fairytale conclusion to my marital problems, my inner voice would frequently remind me there was a very slim possibility I would succeed.

But then my reasonable mind would kick in, and I’d come up with fresh reasons to keep trying. This rationalizing process would eventually make me feel even worse about the potential outcome.

3) You begin to feel bad about yourself.

Failure to reach your goal may lead to self-doubt about your ability. You may be wondering if there is something wrong with you.

A career, relationship, or activity that undermines your self-esteem is usually not worth it.

4) You are the only one who is interested in solving the problem (or achieving the objective) although the outcome depends on others as well.

This is especially true in relationships.

If you are the only one who contacts a buddy or takes initiative to develop a relationship, it is doubtful that the friendship will thrive or even survive.

Letting go of relationships in which you are the only person invested will cause immediate grief, but once the negative emotions have passed, you will be ready to welcome caring and uplifting individuals into your life.

5) Giving up is your first thought when you wake up in the morning.

When you first open your eyes after a night’s sleep, you are most in tune with your intuition, and your intuition always knows what is best for you.

The emotional suffering I felt when I chose to quiet my inner voice was unnecessary and unnecessary. Believe that your intuition will lead you to the places you’re meant to go, the jobs you’re meant to have, and the people you’re meant to meet.

Making the decision to give up may be difficult, but it will open the way to more meaningful and pleasant life experiences. Letting go will take you on a journey of discovery, growth, and expansion!

Conclusion: how do you know when it’s time to give up?

There are moments when we should not give up. When life becomes difficult and we believe that the world would be a better place without us, that is the greatest time to hang on — to firmly refuse to give up on ourselves and the beautiful potential that we each possess.

Knowing that if we give it time, the agony will pass, even if the time seems unending.

There are also occasions when we may misinterpret transitory discomfort for dissatisfaction, or when we seek contentment in places where we may never find it.

Perhaps in these circumstances, we should give it a little more time. But there are instances when quitting is the appropriate thing to do – when quitting is how we achieve rather than fail. When we reach those times, we must recognize that we are evolving as humans rather than giving up as quitters.