Why Quitting ISN'T a Bad Thing

"Quitting is leading, too." - Nelson Mandela

We've grown accustomed to never giving up on anything - careers, relationships, habits, and so on. In school and at home, we are trained to go on despite of challenges and difficulties, which inculcated in our minds that quitters never win, that we should do our best all the time, and that "persistency is the key". And it isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, we overlook one critical aspect of living a better life: quitting isn't always a bad thing. At times, it is exactly what you need.

Knowing when to quit is a skill that can be learned. It can save you from a worthless job, failed relationships, and miserable life. You're not born to endure unhappiness and suffering trying to prove that you are strong.?

Here are some of the things you may consider quitting too, and for good cause:?

Quit Saying YES to Anything. If you have watched “The Yes Man” starring Jim Carrey, you understand that too much of anything, even positivity, is not always a good thing. Saying yes all the time can lead to overcommitment, which will then lead to feelings of being overwhelmed, resentment, and stress. Not great! Learning to say NO is an art. It’s not always easy, but it enables you to set boundaries and prioritize what’s most important for you and what’s aligned with your goals and values. Remember that saying yes to one thing means you are saying no to your other options. So assess your situation carefully and don’t just say yes out of shame, ego, or just pure positivity.?

Quit Blaming Others.? Taking accountability shows who the bigger person is. People blame others to cover for their lack of responsibility, fear, and will, instead of learning from them. This kind of attitude is counter-productive and causes trust issues that will make it difficult for people to work together.? If you keep on blaming others, you are missing the opportunity to learn from your mistakes and work on making positive changes. Remember, some things are out of our control. So what can you do? Communicate and build trust. By taking full responsibility, you make room for personal growth and improvement. ? ?

"Quitting can be beautiful, too!

Quit Toxic Relationships. Toxic relationships can hurt your physical and mental health. But how do we identify if a relationship is toxic? When there is a series of harmful, negative behavior, such as dishonesty, control, manipulation, intimidation, and physical or verbal abuse, among others, that makes the other person feel guilty, insecure, worthless, and always under pressure, then the relationship is not a healthy one. Staying will drain your energy, self-esteem, and overall well-being. Stop dwelling on the time that you have spent together, may it be 5 years, 10 years., or longer - you’ll just be adding more years to your suffering. By ending the toxic relationship, you are taking the first step towards healing and reclaiming control over one's own life.?

Quit a Toxic Job. Never, ever, sacrifice your wellness over money. A toxic work environment can drain you mentally and physically. Money can be earned, but mental health problems, anxiety, and stress that you get from an overly demanding boss, jobs that are outside of the contract, and toxicity of your working environment are always gonna leave marks on you much deeper than you thought and it’s not worth it. By quitting this job, you are opening up to more opportunities, and who knows - your dream job might just be waiting outside the door.?

But of course, we are not promoting quitting jobs then and there. Do all possible actions like reaching out to the management to address the issue, see how you can possibly lessen your exposure to the toxicity, or talk to senior colleagues and professionals about it. And as much as possible, do not quit without savings to help you through as you transition to a new job.?

If you are looking for a stable career that does not require you to travel to and from an office, pays well, and is not toxic, try becoming a VA. Good thing is, we are hiring! Check out this link for all open positions and see which one suits best for you.

Please keep in mind that quitting a job should be a well thought decision, and seeking professional advice or guidance is also beneficial.

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