Whatever You Do, Don’t Give Up on Yourself
Stay standing no matter how hard the wind blows.
A lot of people give up too fast. They start off excited, but eventually, they realize, “Holy shit. This is a lot harder than I thought it would be.” But they shake it off. They think, “It’s okay. I’ve got this.”
It’s only a matter of time before they start questioning themselves, and their confidence starts dropping. They become vulnerable to whispers of doubt, fear, and insecurity. “I’ve got this,” turns into, “Maybe I shouldn’t do this.”
From here, they have two options.
- Listen to those doubts and quit.
- Keep pushing until the whispers become a hum.
Most people will choose the first option. The question that matters now is, which one will you pick?
The Most Powerful Person In Your Life
I’m writing a book for the first time right now. I fall into that black hole of doubt often while I’m writing and have the same thoughts as you:
- “I can’t do this. Why did I ever think I could?”
- “My writing is bad, and it’ll never be good enough. ”
- “This is too hard and confusing. I won’t be able to figure it out.”
But I haven’t given in to those voices — not after seven months. Why? Because I don’t want to give up on myself.
You’re the most powerful person in your life because the person you’re afraid of disappointing the most is yourself.
If I give up on writing my book, I’d end up heartbroken and disappointed, so the solution is simple: don’t quit.
You started doing whatever you’re doing for a reason — because you wanted to. Because you felt you needed to. There are two different parts of you. One is a scaredy-cat (for lack of a better term) and the other is brave.
When you started, you listened to the brave part. All you have to do now is keep listening to it.
Ask yourself, if you listened to the fearful side how disappointed would you be if you quit? How would you feel tomorrow, in six months, or even ten years from now? If you wouldn’t care, then quit. If you know you’d regret your choice, then keep pushing.
Obstacles Are Not Reasons to Quit
People think obstacles are a reason to quit. They think they’re signs that they should pursue a different life because the one they want isn’t working out. But obstacles are not signs. Just because you come face to face with one doesn’t mean you have to quit.
Quitting is easy. Anyone can do it. Is that what you want? Any easy life with no challenge or fulfillment? Or did you want the one that would force you to grow and be courageous?
Challenges are a part of life. It doesn’t matter which dream, job, or career you pursue: something is always going to stop you from reaching the top.
“How long should you try? Until.” — Jim Rohn
Even though the process of writing my book has been difficult, I’ve learned so much about writing and myself. Things that will help me in the future.
Again, any time you come face to face with an obstacle, you have a choice: quit or keep going. Let me ask you, where will giving up get you? Will you end up back in the same place you wanted to escape? Will you be happier or sadder? What are the consequences of giving up, and are they worth it?
If you think they are, then by all means, move on. Sometimes, quitting is the answer. But if you know your life will be worse after quitting, then you have a responsibility to honor your initial wishes.
What Do You Want?
Forget your dreams and goals for a moment, and think about yourself and what you want.
There’s one thing I want above anything else: to finish the first draft of my book. I’m not worrying about publishing or finding an agent — nothing. Since I want it, it’s my job to do it.
What do you want? I’m not talking about your long-term goals. What do you need to finish right now? What’s the hardest thing you always consider giving up on?
It might be to complete your personal website. It might be to finish setting up your Etsy shop. It might be to play a certain song on the piano or finish a painting you’ve been avoiding.
Don’t avoid the hard stuff. Run toward them. It’s in those storms that you find out how strong and capable you really are. The best part is that when you’re finally able to play those notes or look at that final painting, you’ll think, “If I did it once, I can do it again.”
When I first started writing on Medium, the idea of publishing five times a week scared the hell out of me. Anytime I’d think about what I’d write next month, my heart would beat faster. Now that I’ve been writing on here for a little over a year, I don’t have those worries anymore.
Because if you did it once, you can do it again.
Whatever You Do, Don’t Give Up On Yourself
People avoid hurricanes, but if you want to succeed, you have to stay standing — no matter how strong the wind.
I can’t gaurantee that you’ll succeed if you don’t give up. It’s fifty-fifty. But I can gaurantee that you’ll never succeed if you quit.
“Winners never quit, and quitters never win.” — Vince Lombardi
How can you become an author if you keep giving up on the first draft because it’s too hard? How can you become a musician if you keep giving up because the instrument is too confusing?
Everything is too hard and too confusing at first. That’s not an excuse to give it up. Think about all the people — kids included — who are doing what you want to do.
What you’re striving for isn’t impossible. It’s probably one of the hardest things you’ve ever done, but if countless others have done it before you, you can do it, too.
Don’t forget that those other people started in the same place as you. They doubted themselves and their skills just as much as you. They wanted to quit. I bet you some of them did quit before trying again.
Whatever you choose to do, you’ll always reach a point when you want to quit. Don’t give in — no matter what the voices in your head tell you.
My voices say I suck, that I shouldn’t write a book and that I was insane for trying. My feelings are full of doubts, insecurity, and a desire to give up. But I’m stronger than them both.
You’re stronger than anything or anyone that ever tries to push you to give up. But keep going — not for your dream, but for yourself. Don’t quit. Persist.
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