I am not a quitter. I think long and hard before I make commitments to ensure I’m making the right decision. I find ways to make things work so that I don’t have to give up. A fresh perspective or getting input from someone not as intimately involved can do wonders. Quitting for the sake of quitting is too easy.
I bet many of you feel the same way. Do you think, though, that there are times when quitting is appropriate? How do you know when to quit? I think it makes sense to move on when:
- You’ve poured your entire heart and soul into something for a significant amount of time, yet you’re seeing no results.
- Your priorities, wants and needs have shifted.
- You no longer love what you’re doing.
- Your mental and/or physical well being are in danger.
We avoid quitting for several reasons, but I think it’s safe to say that we associate quitting with negative thoughts. Quitters are losers. Quitters are weak. Quitters choose the easy route. You may find this to be true in some cases, but would you use those labels on someone faced with one of the above situations?
Sometimes, not quitting can actually keep you from success. Take the first example. If you keep trying to make something work when you know deep down that it’s not going to happen, put your pride aside, step back and come up with a new and better plan – one that is more likely to succeed.
I’ve been thinking about the topic of when to quit because I’ve had to give up things I love doing (tennis and running) earlier than I expected due to the #littlebabies doing a number on my lower back. Luckily, I only have to quit these for a limited amount of time.
One of my goals for 2012 was to focus on less to do more (this line of thinking contributed to me writing my bucket list, which I highly suggest you do!), so I decided to give up some commitments that I had really enjoyed for the past few years. It wasn’t easy, but I knew it was going to be the best decision in the long run and would ultimately help me achieve my goal (and it did). Still, I had a hard time giving them up, and I allowed myself to feel like a quitter for awhile.
Are we really quitters if our lives change and we therefore have to shift priorities and commitments? I don’t think so. I stand by the four points I outlined above. You know it’s time to give up on something if you can identify with at least one of those scenarios.
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Did you give up on something and feel like a quitter? Do you disagree and think quitting is quitting…no matter what the cause and effects may be?