To continue with my “Accepting Uncomfortable Truths” series, we are going to look at quitting. Too often, quitting has a negative connotation to it. In many situations, quitting is necessary and essential to moving forward. Despite the cultural mantra, quitting an endeavor or relationship that is no longer making you happy, is failing and cannot be fixed, or which no longer meets your needs is a healthy response, as long as it’s the first step toward a new goal and destination.
Knowing when to quit, change direction, leave a toxic situation, demand more from life, give up on something that isn’t working and move on is very important skill that people who win at life all seem to have. But don’t quit because it’s hard; quit because it sucks.
Unfortunately, there is no foolproof formula, a one-size-fits-all strategy for knowing absolutely and positively when to bail on something—a relationship, a job, a goal, a project, a venture, a life path. The important part is to define three things:
- Why do I want to quit?
- What have I done so far to address my resistance?
- What do I have to gain by quitting?
Those answers will be your guiding arrow to your solution.
Kate Genord 