I used to think that quitting was for losers—unless you were quitting heroin, of course!

The inspirational quotes that populate Pinterest and our Facebook pages urge us to “Never Give Up!”  I’m all for these types of mottos, but not when you find yourself staying in the game for the wrong reasons.  In some situations, “never giving up” can be an absolute exercise in futility.

I know several people, and I’m sure you do too, that are experiencing some pretty serious levels of unhappiness in their life.

Maybe it’s a job with a horrendous boss, a project that’s sucking the life and creativity out of them, or a relationship that’s draining or abusive.

In these situations, quitting—or withdrawing one’s self from a situation—can be one of the wisest, most freeing, and empowering decisions of your life.

The bad news is that oftentimes the choice to quit can be harder and scarier than the alternative.

The good news is that, in most situations, we hold the key to the prison we find ourselves in, and our sentences are determined by our action or inaction.

If you’re in a situation where you’re trying to gain clarity on whether to withdraw from a situation or a relationship, consider the following sections below:
1. Common obstacles to quitting
2. Reasons why it may be time to quit
3. Help in the decision making process

Common Obstacles to Quitting:

• Fear. This emotion can paralyze you, but there are ways to overcome fear.
• Because you’ve been told you can’t do it. Don’t listen to the haters—they don’t have your best interest at heart.
• Just because it’s hard. Hard does not equal impossible.  Keep your head up and use your resources.
• Because progress is slow. A lot of good things take time.  Patience is a virtue.
• Laziness. Being a couch potato is a poor excuse to quit!  If this is you, it’s time to turn up the Rocky music and get going—You Can Do It!

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s take a look at some reasons where you can benefit from quitting or removing yourself from a situation.

It May Be Quittin’ Time When:

• You’ve given it a fair shot and it’s not what you expected or what you want in your life.
• You’d like to venture into other opportunities and need to let something go in order to make room for something new.
• You’re stressing more about the work, projects, or relationships in your life than you are loving your life.
• You are in physical or emotional danger.

Help in Making a Decision:

• Talk to friends, mentors, and counselors.
• Write a pros and cons list.
• Work through your scenario in mind mapping style! I’ll show you how here.
• Pray for wisdom and direction.

Once you’ve thought it all through, and you decide it’s in your best interest to quit or remove yourself from a situation, try your best to exit with grace and fairness.

Blessings to you!

Jill xx