Should I Quit or Keep Going?

In terms of pursuing your own goals in life or trying to help others achieve their goals, there are two grand mistakes in life: quitting to soon and not stopping soon enough. Today I want to tell you about two resources that might help you consider and make the "let it go or keep going" choice if and when you encounter it.

Resource 1: If your gut instinct seems to be telling you to keep on going.

I read a book this weekend about people who "knew in their heart" they should keep on going. The book, The Secret of Success is Not a Secret by Darcy Andries, includes over 250 stories about people who refused to quit too soon. In many cases, these people were strongly advised by so-called "experts" in their chosen field to give up...pack it in and find something else to do. They were often treated poorly and disrespectfully by critics and naysayers. These persistent, high achievers were told that they were not qualified...not good enough...or, in some cases, they were branded as outright failures. In most cases, they ignored the critics and kept right on going or made adjustments based on valid criticisms...and then kept right on going.

Resource 2: If your gut instinct seems to be telling you it is time to let go and move on.

About four minutes! If you read at an average pace, that's how long it will take you to read Edwin H. Friedman's fable called The Bridge. When you read it, many of you are going to realize it is time to let go of some of your choices....especially any inauthentic choices. Inauthentic choices are not really our choices; however, we all make inauthentic choices simply because we are human. We set out to do certain things because someone else was sure that it was the best thing for us or someone else wanted us to make a certain choice for their selfish reasons. If you choose to take the four minutes or so it will take you to read The Bridge, think carefully about past choices that are now preventing you from pursuing an authentic life.

In a sense, emotions are our only direct source of knowledge and guidance. Think about it...we learn almost everything in life from a teacher, a book or some other indirect or external source. Our emotions are just that...solely ours. When you are making a major life decision, after you get through with all the logical thinking...and the pro and con thinking...and the cost/benefit thinking...don't forget to tap into your emotional side and ask, "Do I really want to make this choice...How does it feel to me?" In the end, going to a quiet place and tapping into your emotions will probably help you make the best choice when you find yourself at the crossroads of going forward or letting go.    

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Chris Crouch, president of DME Training and Consulting, has spent years researching and studying both the mental and physical aspects of being productive.

Comments

[gsdsmiles]

Dear Chris
As I was reading the story, I immediately thought " I know the answer as I've lived it many times! As usual, I'll just tie the rope to my waist and keep walking across the bridge. When I get to the end, so will the leech. It was hard-going but I did my part (my guilt buttons firmly taught) and also made it to the end of the bridge for myself. The leech can either stay there and curse me or climb up the edge and plot to eventually find a new guilt programmed sucker. Now I'm better at spotting the signs and not buying in! LOL!

[Chris Crouch]

Darcy, I agree with you and Joseph Campbell who advised us to "follow our bliss" in life.

[Darcy Andries]

I'm so glad you liked my book Chris. The one thing I learned writing it is that you must follow your passion. If you are doing something that you love and makes you happy, eventually you will succeed. If you're not happy, then it's time to change direction.

Darcy