rest, don't quit
Happy Wednesday! In Monday’s post, I wrote about the need to “be passionate” in what you do. I’ve written before that it's easier to be 100% committed to something than only 95% committed to it. If you have a passion for something in life, it means that there’s something you do that fulfills you in some way. You know what's best for you. Trust yourself.
Do you ever feel like there’s more you can do? There is. If you’re feeling that way, it’s most likely because there’s something you’re not doing. Our feelings exist for a reason; we need to listen to them. In order to figure out what’s missing, you need to be aware enough of yourself to listen to what your inner-self is trying to say. I’ve written before about soul-searching and most likely will again because it’s a continuous process.
What do you do when you feel like there’s more you can do but can’t quite put your finger on it? I’ll tell you what I do. I walk away. I pivot to another project to clear my mind so that I can come back to whatever I’m working on with a fresh perspective and a willingness and readiness to say yes.
There’s a huge difference between resting and quitting. Resting gives your body and mind time to recuperate so you can attack a problem from a different angle at another time, whereas quitting means giving up entirely on something. I, personally, don’t give up on things that bring me joy. I’ve kept up with projects for years because of the joy they brought me. When I finally feel, after multiple attempts and philosophies, that there is nothing left for me to explore or discover, that’s when I’ll give up on something. Give up only when something feels complete and finished - not because it seems too hard.
Quitting can be the right choice, though, if you’re quitting things that are not good for you: bad habits, bad relationships, bad thoughts. Most quitting happens because people become frustrated and then convince themselves they can’t do something. They convince themselves the project isn’t worth it anymore because they’re tired and because they feel like they’ve exhausted all their options. Usually all it takes to see something in a new way is a good night’s sleep, stepping away from the immediate task, or asking someone else for an outside perspective. Or a nice cuppa (but that's the Irish in me peeking out).
Could you imagine running a long-distance race on no sleep? I ran my fair share of cross-country races growing up, and sleep was vital. I learned very quickly in my competitive running days that the biggest road block wasn’t physical inadequacies but mental ones. Running distances of 7, 8, 10, and even 13 miles during practices really allows you to spend time with yourself and your thoughts as you're running through some scenic trails. There were a few times where I would want to give up around the 9 mile mark - just about the time the thoughts of my bed started interrupting my focus - but those were the times I ended up pushing myself the hardest. Because it was just another blip on the radar of the greater race.
Don’t quit just because you encounter a blip on the radar. Take a deep breath, stay positive, and get some rest. Everything is clearer when you come back to something after taking a short break.
Thank you so much for reading, and, as always, if you have any pressing questions or if you want to discuss something further with me, feel free to subscribe below or reach out to me on the “contact” page. I’m so grateful you're here and that I’ve been getting a lot of really challenging questions and even better feedback from a community all over the world. I couldn’t do this without you! So THANK YOU! I’m here for you, and I love hearing from you, too! You’re the best, and you have everything you need inside of you! Please believe it! Starve your ego, feed your soul - and follow your heart!