We all go through tough situations where things seem not to work regardless of our invested efforts. We then wonder if the goal is worth all the trouble. Where we think it is indeed worth it, we ask ourselves whether we will succeed amid all obstacles. It is human nature to worry when things do not go as planned and, it is good to do evaluations and make adjustments where strategies are not yielding the expected results.
Sometimes our failures are so significant, discouraging, and embarrassing or, we doubt ourselves so much such that we are tempted to take the easiest way out of our discomfort, giving up. Many of us have been there and have probably given in to the temptation at some point. The question is, are you aware of how much is at stake as you give in to the urge to quit? It does not only mean the death of a dream, but it also affects you psychologically and makes quitting a lot easier in the future. Quitting is an indication that we have lost an inner battle. Sometimes we give up when we are closer to our dream than to where we started. Think of what Milton Hershey would have missed if he had given up after his third fail.
“Milton Hershey started three candy companies before Hershey's. Everyone knows Hershey's chocolate, but when Milton Hershey first started his candy production career, he was a nobody. After being fired from an apprenticeship with a printer, Hershey started three separate candy-related ventures and was forced to watch all of them fail.
In one last attempt, Hershey founded the Lancaster Caramel Company and started seeing tremendous results. Believing in his vision for milk chocolate for the masses, he eventually founded the Hershey Company and became one of the most well-known names in the industry.“ 6 Stories of Super Successes Who Overcame Failure. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/
Of course, there are cases where it may not be wise to continue chasing a specific dream, changes in the market, for example. But, if you are to let a particular dream go, do not let it leave your bag of dreams empty. Dream even bigger and work even harder and smarter. Below are five signs that you have a quitting habit;
Unwilling to try a task or stick with it, fearing failure or making a mistake
- You are easily discouraged when you face setbacks and give up without confronting a problem– this is common among people who doubt themselves or expect to have everything easy. They usually have a skewed view of reality or think that they do not have what it takes to make things happen. If you are one of those people, here are things you actually should be quitting, thinking that everything has to go smoothly and the idea that you are not good enough or something is not meant for you. Face your problems and find ways around them.
- Fitting yourself into other people's stories – sometimes we listen too much to other people's stories and make them our reality. We spend time with people who do not help us grow. Let's say your friends have walked the same journey and have failed. How about you learn from their mistake and use them to improve your strategies? It does not matter how much you have in common with your friends. You are walking on different journeys. Draw boundaries as to how much you let other people's lives can affect you. You are different, and your experiences will be different according to your gifts and purpose.
- You always have excuses – quitters often have reasons for not pursuing their dream or not making things work. They use excuses like 'everyone has it hard,' 'I was resisted' or 'I have too much on my plate right now' among many others to cover up for choosing to stay in their comfort zone instead of confronting their issues. Remind yourself; you might succeed in fooling everyone and yourself, but no one will stand up and make your life better for you. Do not entertain fear and feeling inadequate. Do not stop when resisted. It could just mean that it is not time yet, or it is not where you are meant to be, or that you were misunderstood.
- Craving instant gratification – you want results now, whatever you do must start paying as soon as you start. With that mentality, you cannot have the patience to let something grow. And in some cases, even the greatest ideas are given up only because they will take too long to pay, and you cannot wait. Almost everyone starts small. The famous Apple began with two men in a garage but is now worth millions and employs all over the world.
- Overthinking – over thinkers often see more than is necessary. They usually have a problem with every idea and can dismiss some ideas without even trying. As much as it is good to consider our strengths and weaknesses as well as opportunities and threats, we shouldn't let them be our obstacles themselves. Thinking at that level should help us identify possible obstacles and be prepared to deal with them.
"I will persist until I succeed. Always will I take another step. If that is of no avail, I will take another, and yet another. In truth, one step at a time is not too difficult. I know that small attempts, repeated, will complete any undertaking." Og Mandino
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