or maybe, do.
When I was growing up every adult in my life tried to instill in me the value of not giving up and quitting something. Whether it was a sports team or giving up on geometry (guys, that stuff is actually really hard), we are encouraged to persevere and see something to its end. If you make a commitment or take on a task you’re supposed to finish it out. I can agree with the fundamental aspect of this but to be honest, I think as adults this concept majorly screws us up.
We are taught to believe that continuing with something is what makes us strong, but sometimes isn’t the smartest and strongest thing to know when to give up and cut your losses? If you’re sticking with something for the sole purpose of sticking with it your heart probably isn’t in it, it’s probably suffering, and you’re spinning around on the proverbial hamster wheel instead of moving on to something that could possibly be much more fulfilling.
This applies to everything- jobs, relationships, and random circumstances. It’s especially difficult to leave a situation that’s familiar, but it’s all the more rewarding when you can take a step back and realize that it’s not serving you and can even be hindering you. I think that we need to make quitting okay as a society. Okay, you can’t quit everything you ever try, but quitting something that is wrong for you in the hopes that you find something that’s right for you is the bravest thing that I’ve ever done.
I’d never advocate dropping out of college, but Bill Gates did because it wasn’t working for him and I for one think he’s doing okay. Listen, I’m realistic. Not everyone that quits something is going to end up being Bill Gates. But don’t they deserve the opportunity to find out? There’s no shame in realizing that something is wrong and quitting so you can move on to what’s right.
