By Jamie Kirk
A few years back, I had a eureka moment. I realized my job in Consulting was affording me a nice lifestyle, but not a whole lot more. I didn’t feel fulfilled on a deep, personal level. I didn’t feel I was making a difference or using my talents to the fullest, so I decided it was time to make a switch and pursue my passions. I was not able to completely disconnect from Corporate America, but I did get certified to be a Spin Instructor, which offset the mundane, ordinary life I was creating.
My story is not as interesting as those folks that woke up went to work and quit on the spot. They made a snap decision in a moment of frustration that impacted their entire life. They made a change and never looked back. Or did they? People that make a life change have many considerations that start to rear their ugly heads. Will money be tight? Is this the right thing to do? Perhaps it’s easier just to give up on the dream and continue the ho-hum existence? All valid – but what about being happy and fulfilled?
Faced with a big decision, try to keep the things below top of mind.
Life Isn’t About Talk; It’s About Commitment
A dream isn’t worth anything until you try to put it into practice. When you dedicate yourself to your dream, whatever it may be, you find yourself at the intersection of perception and reality. This idea has probably existed in your mind for years, taking on a particular shape and existing entirely as a function of your own imagination. Now, when you put it to the test, it’s time to get real. It’s time to give birth to the idea and fully commit to nurturing that dream the same way you would nurture a child.
Resilience and Adaptation Are the Keys to A Vibrant Life and Healthy Mind
When you are trying to manifest an idea, there will be setbacks, failures, and disappointments. Newsflash: Setbacks, failures, and disappointments are good for you! They are the best education you can get, as they teach you to adapt. Giving up is like dropping out of school; you miss out on critical experiences and valuable lessons and do not learn the enormous value of failure.
Quitting Can Become a Habit
If you give up on the things that matter most to you, you will likely establish a pattern of giving up on anything when things don’t go the way you hoped. You will not learn the importance of persistence — and anything worthwhile requires persistence.
Values Are the Most Important Thing
Persisting with goals that are important to you means placing more significance on your values, rather than convenience or expedience. Hopefully, you wouldn’t ever give up on your values, and you wouldn’t give up on the ideas that reflect those values.
Self-Belief Is Everything
Giving up on your important goals is tantamount to giving up on yourself. You are a unique person with your own gifts and talents, and no one will invest in them more than you. Perhaps millions of people have had the same goals and dreams as you, but everyone manifests these aspirations differently — and uniquely.
So, what does never giving up really mean? It means believing in yourself. It means a willingness to accept “failure,” so you can learn the critical skill of adaptation. It means not compromising on your most important values, and walking the walk, rather than just talking the talk. It means living the life you want and is passionate about.
Never quit on the things that are important to you. Self-belief is the most important belief there is.