Grit and resilience are of course the greatest virtues that push people forward in their life. However, the social dogma of ‘Quitting is Bad’ is perhaps not true in all cases. It is not the right sentiment as quitting can bring a positive impact in life as well. Think of quitting an addiction or bad habit, or letting go of a toxic relationship; does quitting feel wrong? It is not wrong since it helps people to get rid of negativity and proceed in life with prosperity.
Why do Humans Hate to Quit?
Most humans are high with grit and it is not an easy thing to let go or quit something since the default human behavior is to keep on trying and proceeding forward. Quitting has become a question of morality in this culture and society that preaches resilience. No wonder, why humans are ashamed of quitting or giving up on certain pursuits. The alluring taste of near-win situations also affects the decision of giving up and the casino industry is greatly benefited from that.
While quitting is necessary and a smart move sometimes, you need to understand what the right time is since quitting is not also the right move in every case. Here are some practices that help you cut the losses.
1. Toss a Coin
In most cases, humans prefer to avoid changes and thus they fail to reset courses to ensure more benefit. It is just a moment of making a tough decision whether to stay or let go. If you find it difficult to opt for a choice, toss a coin for the sake of the future. No matter what the outcome is, you will be able to proceed with a decision. However, if the doubt has occurred in the first place; there must be some potential reason behind it. So, proceed with the change.
2. Identify Your Prime Goal
Thinking about your passion and goal helps you to stay on course without drifting with conflicting thoughts. Whenever you find yourself struggling with commitments, think about the goal in mind and check whether these commitments align with your goal. There might be many small steps that you have to take to reach your goal. You can quit on the steps or find a substitute step when you want without giving up on your prime goal.
3. Prepare Yourself for the Dip
Whenever there is a new pursuit, there is a low point as well. This is referred to as the dip which can appear after a certain time the pursuit has begun or right at the beginning. If you can anticipate the dip before, you can take the necessary steps to overcome it or even quit the project by analyzing the consequences. Research and get more data before jumping on a new project.
4. Quit the Shame
Instead of misinterpreting Quitting with Failure, try to quit the shame that arrives from quitting. It is just a social construct that people can shame you if you suddenly stop, but are you okay to stop? You should focus on that. Quitting is not necessarily a failure but it means reinvesting since you quit a project to initiate another. Strategic quitting is a prideful choice and a smart move whether it is your life or business. There should be no shame in directing yourself toward your passion to put your energy into something more fulfilling.
Being a good quitter is a great life skill that everyone requires since it is an informed rational decision that aligns with your money, time, and talents. The ability to let go cleanly can help people deal with life more lightly while achieving more goals.