“ Quitting something you are good at can be hard , but don ’ t let your caution get in the way of your obedience . ”
When we are performing for others , we are no longer ourselves and instead are just another sword swallower at the circus . The trick to stop performing and start living more authentically is to find out what you feel a unique sense of satisfaction doing and can envision yourself devoting boatloads of time and energy toward .
Many of us make our lives work by operating only within our current capabilities rather than responding to our deeper purposes . And a lot of people would be happy for us to continue doing just that . People who identify us by our capabilities to be a lawyer or a singer , for example — and whose livelihoods are connected to our continuing to do what the previous versions of us have done — can directly or indirectly steer us toward continuing to do what we ’ re merely capable of , rather than having us welcome the new and truer versions that might be stirring within us .
Here are two key ways you can start living into your true purpose .
QUITTING CAN BE A SUPERPOWER
Did you know January 19 is annually called Quitter ’ s Day ? This is evidently the day when most people bail on their New Year ’ s resolutions .
I grew up hearing various axioms from my parents . Some were good and helpful , and others were just annoying . One of their all-time favorites was “ Goffs aren ’ t quitters .” I learned later that my parents had inadvertently lied to me , because Goffs indeed are quitters . Let me tell you what I mean .
Quitting important , necessary , lasting things might be a bad idea , but quitting the right things is a really great idea . I now quit things all the time and let my kids know that Goffs are quitters . The more I quit doing things that are distractions , the better my life becomes .
There are a couple of times in the Bible when Jesus told people to quit doing something . He said to the woman caught in the act of adultery to knock it off . Jesus saved her from the crowd and told her to quit doing what she was doing . He said the same thing to the guy at the Pool of Bethesda , who once was paralyzed but now wasn ’ t .
“ Quitting something you are good at can be hard , but don ’ t let your caution get in the way of your obedience . ”
Here ’ s my question for you . What do you need to quit ? Is it a job or a relationship or a hurt or a grudge ? Sometimes leading means leaving . Is it your time to quit something you have been hanging on to ? I get it . Quitting something you are good at can be hard , but don ’ t let your caution get in the way of your obedience . Keep being strong and courageous and when you quit , go big .
Today , stop taking half measures or spending your time practicing your announcement speech . Just say “ I ’ m out ” and call it good .
SLOW IS FAST AND FAST IS SMOOTH
I have a pretty short list of things I have
35