Ultimately your heart knows when it’s time to walk away. My heart certainly knew ten years ago,
though it took some time for my head to come to terms with my decision. Through the struggles I
experienced I came to see that there is a definite upside to quitting. In particular I gained the following
insights:
•
Quitting is NOT the same thing as giving up.
Giving up is:
- Throwing in the towel because you can’t be bothered to put in the effort
- Going for every new fad on the market and bailing out when a new one comes along
- Losing sight of your dream, mainly because it was hazy to begin with
- Not believing in your product or service, and chopping and changing your offering on a
whim
Giving up never creates success. It reflects a lack of vision, commitment and focus, and can
only lead to one failed venture after another.
Quitting what no longer works is a powerful act. It takes courage to take an honest look at your
life and to admit when things aren’t working. It is also a sign of maturity to know when you are
doing more harm than good.
•
It doesn’t have to be so hard.
The idea that nothing worthwhile can be achieved without pain and suffering is outdated and
destructive. We can only serve others, express our talents and maximise our potential when
we are enjoying what we do. It is this positive energy that sustains us and keeps us moving
forward.
If your work takes more from you than it adds to your life – in terms of satisfaction, reward,
sense of purpose, energy or whatever is important to you – then it may be worth asking
yourself what you are doing and why you are doing it.
•
Nothing is ever wasted
No-one wants to look back on years of effort and feel that they have wasted their time, money
and energy on an ultimately futile venture. So we hold on, even when it is detrimental to
ourselves to do so.
We do not appreciate enough that every failure and set-back we experience is an opportunity
for growth, and that all the trials we face shape who we become. Even as we stumble we
acquire new skills and new levels of resilience, and the disappointments we face today will
inform how we respond to tomorrow’s challenges.
It’s time we said it’s okay to quit sometimes. When you quit what no longer works you are giving
yourself a second chance, honouring the purpose of your existence, and taking control of your life
and your destiny. The world needs us at our best.