There are times in life when almost everyone has thought about giving up.  Frustrated and feeling like nothing is working for them, a person can get to the point of saying, “What’s the use in trying anymore?”

Reaching that point in life, most of the time a person chooses one of two courses.  If someone is really discouraged, they can choose to accept their “plight in life.”  They see their dreams or goals as unattainable.  They believe that for them, “This is just the way that it is.”

But others choose a different path.  Yes, they too may be discouraged.  They may very well be very frustrated and feel like giving up. But, instead, they choose not to give up.  They choose to keep trying.

Why Bother?

Life is not without challenges and setbacks no matter who you are.  With the current economic situations many of those challenges seem to be magnified.  It can be tempting to think, “Why bother trying anymore?”

This is not only true with economic challenges, but with relationships, illness, special projects; it’s true with any number of different things.  But no matter what it is you are thinking about “giving up” on, before you do, consider two important questions.

First, why was this important to you in the first place?  Whether it is a relationship, a job promotion, a dream of yours, a new business, moving to a new city, etc., why was it important to begin with?  Really be honest in answering this question.

Secondly, do you feel like quitting because it is no longer important to you, or, because it hasn’t worked out yet like you expected it to?  Here’s an important key in answering this second question:  if it no longer important to you, then it really isn’t a big deal to abandon it.  But, on the other hand, if you feel sad and remorseful giving up on something, then it may very well still be important to you.

If something is important to you, I don’t believe you ever have to quit.  Your goals and your dreams are yours.  The desires of your heart are deeply personal and they are very important because they are yours.  The Bible states that God will give you the desires of your heart, so He must think they are important as well.

So, if something is still important to you then you can either give up, or, you can refuse to quit.  I know that refusing to quit is easier said than done.  I’ve been there in my life many times.

Where Is Your Focus, Honestly?

It really takes no more effort to focus on a negative than it does to focus on a positive. So many times when we are ready to give up and quit we are focusing only on the problems.  All we see is that we do not have what we desire.  That tempts us to complain and blame.

Put your focus back on your goal, back on what you desire.  Yes, you need to track your accomplishments, but keep your main focus on your desire.

Dismiss and let go of worry, doubt and fear.  The greatest detriment to success is fear of failure.  Put your trust in God. His message to you is, “Fear not.”  So, when you have those feelings of fear, toss them out and replace them with thoughts of confidence; Say, “I can do this!”

You Need A Plan

Next, write down a plan, any kind of a plan.  It doesn’t have to be 10 pages long.  As a matter of fact, if you can only write one or two things down that’s fine.  That’s your plan for right now.

This is really helpful especially if you feel like you are at the end of your ropes and that you have already tried everything.  That doesn’t matter now.  You have decided not to quit, so you are now re-grouping.  Just write something down.  You can add to it later, but you need to start somewhere.

Writing your plan helps to eliminate the worries of how and what and where.  Instead of looking at past setbacks you are now focusing on a solution.  Here is what I am going to do right now.

Try It Today

For example, you may simply write down, “pray.”  That’s fine.  Maybe that’s all you can do right now, today.  Then tomorrow, you add to your plan, “Evaluate what I have been doing.”

Continue to add things to your plan such as: what you will continue to do, what might need adjusting, what new things you can do, what additional information you need to learn and who can you get help from.

If something is indeed important to you, then don’t quit.  Have confidence in God and stay persistent.  The learning when you stay on the journey is invaluable, and as many have said, many times more fulfilling than actually achieving the goal or dream.

Finally, refuse to think or utter anything negative about your dream or goal.  Always speak positively about it.  I will get there.  I am making progress.  I am moving forward.  It doesn’t matter how slow the progress, what matters is that I am moving forward because I refuse to quit.

Mike Verdicchio
2012

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