Sometimes quitting is a really good strategy. At times it can be the only strategy! Over the years I’ve learned to become quite a good giver-upper.
I know, I know, it’s counter-intuitive. Giving up goes against the common mantra of ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again’.
For the record, I’m all for effort. I have an A* in effort. But also a B+ in quitting.
It’s okay to surrender to the fact that you cannot change certain circumstances or people. There’s only so many times you can bang your head against a brick wall without realising the wall isn’t going to give. Honestly, if you’ve genuinely tried, and tried, and tried, and tried, and tried and are still not getting anywhere then sometimes the wisest and bravest thing is to give up.
If ‘self-help’ is a science, then ‘giving up’ is an art.
So, don’t give up easily, but it’s most certainly an option. Knowing when to walk away from a relationship or a job – that’s the ‘clever’ bit.
The bonus is that you’ll have more energy to plough into something new and exciting.