Insiders, as we enter the month of February, we need to take the time to reflect on what deserves our time and energy. We started off the year with a renewed spirit to make 2023 different – introducing new habits, stepping out of our comfort zones, and discovering what works best for us as we take strides towards our desired lives. However, this is all a learning experience, and sometimes we need to make small or large adjustments to our approach. Sometimes, we may even need to quit our approach entirely. But before you do that, you have to be honest about why you’re quitting. Are you making room to do something more aligned with your goals and values, or are you shying away from the initial discomfort that comes with stepping into your highest self?
Before we can surpass our limits, we have to reach them. Getting to capacity can feel taxing, and it can be difficult to discern when the hassle is truly worth it. So, the following questions can help you decide when it’s best to quit and when you should stick things through:
Is my potential being limited or being brought out?
Growth isn’t always going to feel how you want or how you’re used to it feeling. You might be someone who has always worked on your strengths, and when all of a sudden you're forced to address your weaknesses, it’ll feel like you’re being struck down. If you only ever do the things you are good at, you’ll leave a hole in your skillset that you’ll fall into sooner or later.
Is this not the right fit, or have I just not found my place within it yet?
What you first encounter when you start something new is not always what lies ahead. You might just be a few steps away from finding what you’ve always been looking for, so don’t be quick to dismiss anything. Try to learn the terrain before turning around.
If I let this go, am I going to try to come back for it?
Some goodbyes are temporary and some of them are permanent – you’re lucky if you’re in a situation where you get to decide which one it's going to be. Don’t let a fleeting feeling make you forget why you wanted something in the first place, and if you do leave, be confident that you are better off without it.
Am I being changed for the better or for the worse?
You have to look at what's in front of you and decide whether or not it reflects where and who you want to be. Is this something that you are willing to allow to change you? If you were to change, are you losing a part of yourself that you admire or a trait that has previously held you back?
Why am I here?
You cannot live an intentional life without knowing what you truly care about. If what you are doing is aligned with your values, you can get through anything, but when that alignment isn’t there, it’s rarely ever worth it. Before you can know what deserves your commitment, you must know what you truly want and what you stand for.
If you still want to quit after answering all these questions, do it wholeheartedly. Make your departure an act of commitment towards yourself and who you know you can be, and feel confident that you are taking actions to guide your own destiny.
