2 MIN READ

Quitting isn’t easy and it is viewed oftentimes in a negative light.

No one wants to be a “quitter,” and no one wants to feel like they are giving up, but sometimes, quitting is the best way to open up opportunities for yourself that are even better than you can imagine! 

When I reflect on my major milestones, highs, and lows, most major achievements have been preceded by quitting something.

Quitting isn’t easy and its something that is talked about but viewed oftentimes in a negative light, but I believe quitting can usher in new opportunities that we could have never dreamt of being possible otherwise. 

TUNE IN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE:

For example, I quit Division 1 track after two years in college. Being a part of that team was something I was extremely proud of in the first place, but I quit it mainly because of its effects on others and learned a valuable lesson in the process. I was running competitively for coaches who were either unwilling or unable to work around my history of leg surgery and slight disability, so I was in pain every single day. I was exhausted, felt beaten up at the end of every practice, and was frustrated being unable to train in the way I knew to be pain-free and life-giving. 

I would unload all this negativity on my roommates and any family members I had phone calls with each week, and I knew this was not my best effort at being a good friend or daughter.

I prayed about this situation a lot and came to realize the effect not quitting track had on the people I lived with and spent a lot of time with. My tears, anger, impatience, and feelings of constantly being in pain became something my roommates had no choice but to live with, and I didn’t like how I was draining the positivity out of those closest to me. Although this was a challenging decision to make, I chose I just made the decision, and it was a really hard one, but I made the decision to quit and shift all the newfound time and energy into something else. 

In this particular instance, quitting track allowed me to get back into shape and feel healthy, energized, and passionate again. It allowed me more time to eventually get extremely involved in leadership opportunities on campus that I really enjoyed learning from and even got me a little faster in my running times. 

I have quit many things only to be able to look back on each one and identify the blessing that followed in the form of a brand new opportunity. 

What if we all asked ourselves in the midst of this success-driven society: 

What is success if you are suffering on the inside and are completely unfulfilled? 

What is success if your health takes a massive hit? 

What is success if you are now all of a sudden a constant source of negativity and complaining to the people you love and care about the very most?

In the episode, I ask some questions we can all ponder when we find ourselves trying to decide whether to continue or quit pursuing our current paths in something: 

• How is this affecting other people?

• How is this affecting your overall energy, well-being, longevity, and mindset?

• Where do you see yourself long-term? If you keep doing what you’re doing right now, where will you be in 5 years?

• What do you know now that you didn’t before you committed to this job, group, or hobby?

• Did you bite off more than you can chew?

• Can you make the time and you just aren’t being productive or can you actually not make the time?

• Where is the value for you? Remember you will always do something better when you genuinely love it.

• What is the payoff for your focus being able to be redirected to something else?

Don’t be afraid of quitting. Even if it takes a while, something better can be waiting for you if you have the courage and drive to chase after it.

Quitting and failure shouldn’t ever be related and I can’t wait to see where you end up!

Please give this a listen and let me know in the comments below!