There are times in our career when we want to throw our hands in the air and shout, “I quit.” If working on something is affecting your mental health in a negative way, then it’s time to give up. Quitting, resetting, and rethinking what you’re doing are all acceptable options. Then go on with a new strategy. When you want to quit, but there isn’t a big reason why you should, look at the main reasons to keep going.
Understanding why you must break through the wall is a rather straightforward process………. It is referred to as the “Big Why?” You’re more likely to give up if your why isn’t clearly defined. The simple act of sitting down and writing out all the reasons you shouldn’t give up might often be all you need to keep you going. Consider whether you are doing it for yourself, and why you deserve it. If you’re a parent, you might look back on your youth with a sense of wanting to create something better for your children than you experienced growing up. You believe your family deserves better, and going the extra mile is more than worth it to you since you care so much about them. If you haven’t heard of Simon Sinek, he’s most notably known for his TedTalk titled; How Great Leaders Inspire Action. The focus on his talk was around the importance of answering the “Why” question and what is now known as The Golden Circle. Below is a video from Sinek where he describes how he came to this realization, and how the WHY movement has grown.
You’ll need to keep reminding yourself that there are going to be a lot of obstacles in the way. Sit down, clear your mind and contemplate the obstacles before you. Ask yourself if they are truly obstacles preventing you from moving forward or if your imagination is exaggerating their magnitude. We often embellish an event by adding in negative self-talk and actions that did not take place. For example, a negative self-image perceives the act of feedback as criticism rather than coaching. Our minds are capable of creating fears, but sometimes those fears are filled with pain when they don’t have to be.
Replaying breakthrough moments in your imagination might help you avoid picturing hurdles in your mind. Fake obstacles will have a hard time taking root in the wake of such positive reflection. Breakthroughs occur to everyone at some point in their careers. It might be anything as basic as suffering through two years of an entry-level position before suddenly finding purpose in this experience as a stepping stone to a promotion. You may have spent years attempting to be the best salesperson in your company, only to come in second place. After that, you took your frustration and channeled it into action, putting in the time and calls necessary to get to the top. The thrill of achieving such a significant goal and receiving such recognition was priceless.
When someone says they have no recollection of a time when they were a winner, then make one. If you give it enough focus, your brain can’t discern the difference between a real occurrence and one you’ve made up. In Psychology this process is known as the Pygmalion Effect. Think back to a time when someone believed in you, and in doing so gave you the self-belief to push through. Describe how you “rose to the occasion” when confronted with a serious obstacle and smashed through it. Put your heart and soul into it, and imagine yourself leaping up and down and yelling, “I did it!”. In your mind’s eye, you’ll be able to see this scene in motion. This happens all the time in sports. Basketball’s finest free-throw shooters have a mental picture in their heads that encourages them to make their shots. After bouncing the ball around a few times before shooting it, they see and feel themselves on the line, ready to go. In this mental replay, there are no rim bouncers.
Stop and take a breather when you’re feeling overwhelmed. What may initially feel like a need to quit is simply a need to take a break . Take a deep breath, then turn off your phone and disconnect from email, social media, and constant notifications. For me getting outside and connecting with nature helps me reset. The only thing that matters is whether or not you are moving and smiling at the same time. Don’t worry about why you decided to rest for a few days. A mental and physical break is the only solution. Once you feel a sense of rejuvenation begin the process of refocusing on what you want and why you want it, then take huge action to get there.
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