How we show up when we feel something is not working or when doubt starts creeping in can change everything.
Sometimes things don’t work out the way we expect them to even when we pour our energy, time, and thoughts into them.
It’s so easy to quit when we’re frustrated and disappointed.
There are two ends on the quitting spectrum.
On one end is to let our emotions drive an impulsive decision and jump ship.
On the other end is the belief that if we quit we are bad, we are a failure, so we hang on for the wrong reasons.
Now, I absolutely believe that it is okay to quit, I do believe that. I also believe you’ve got to stick it out long enough to see if the magic is going to happen.
You can quit if it’s no longer serving you, if your heart’s not in it, if you know it’s not right for you, and it’s not bringing you any joy. You can absolutely quit.
But don’t quit if you’re just fearful of looking silly. Don’t quit if you’re just fearful, like, “I’m scared it’s not going to work, so I’m going to quit.”
But regardless if it works or not, I’m showing up, and I’m pretty proud of myself for doing so. And I hope that you identify the areas that you’re showing up, even though it might not be “working” just yet.
Maybe it’s really uncomfortable, and maybe you want to jump ship but before you do, grab your journal or notebook and answer these 5 questions and journal on the Deep Dive questions – which will give you so much clarity.
5 Questions to answer before you quit
#1 Is it hard or is it hurting you?
Situations that are hard, where you are forced to learn and push yourself, result in growth. That’s worth fighting for. If you get to a hard moment and chose not to push through, you have reached the limit of your capability. However, if your mental health is suffering, it might be time to make a shift.
Deep Dive: What is hard or hurting you. How is it hurting you?
#2 Does it fill you up or empty you out?
The second you start to feel depleted, you need to pay attention to what’s draining you.
Sometimes things that once filled you up can begin to deplete your energy over time, so make sure you are getting a return on the investment you are putting in! If there are areas in your life that are draining you, take inventory to identify what needs to change while also keeping perspective on why you started in the first place.
Deep Dive:: What specifically depletes you? How does this show up for you physically, emotionally? What specifically is it costing you?
#3 Is it holding you back or helping you?
Maybe you spend more time trying to fix something that’s broken. There are aspects of your life, dreams, energies and wishes that die when you hold onto things for too long because your brain is tricking you into thinking that you need to keep pouring energy into areas that don’t serve you. If you continue to do this, you are going to create more heartache and headache for yourself. Stop fighting against what’s broken. Instead, create something new.
Deep Dive: What are you trying to fix? What’s so important about fixing it? What’s all this fixing keeping you from?
#4 Are you growing or does your life feel stale and stuck?
Maybe, you’ve lost sight of what you really want. If you’ve lost the natural enthusiasm of what the future holds for you, it’s time to pivot. Exploring is such an important part of growth. You can try things and change your mind until you find what sticks. This is how you jumpstart growth and gain insight into what you truly want to put your energy into.
If you feel stuck, you have to push yourself out of your comfort zone and make room for something new. You might need to quit the job or spend less time around certain people.
Deep Dive: What lights you up? What makes you smile, brings you joy? Why are these things important to you? What do you want to try next?
#5 Are you having bad dreams?
Having bad dreams can reveal the truth about how you feel about your situation. Most dreams are a continuation of what you are to actually experience in real life. Your subconscious is trying to tell you something. Listen to it!
Deep Dive: Describe your bad dreams in as much detail as possible. How does that parallel your actual life? What emotions does it bring up for you?
After you’ve answered these questions, pause for 48 hours. You don’t have to make big decisions quickly. Over this time, your brain will start to recognize information that it wasn’t able to in the moment and your gut will weigh in as well.
The worst thing you can do is make a choice that you’re unsure about. Instead, take a break. Then, come back to your decisions with the confidence that you can commit to them!