How to change your life? Give up. Don’t give up trying to change your life. Change it by giving up.
The society I know values persistence. Right now the Winter Olympics are playing out on our TV screens with testimonials to the effort and diligence of the athletes. If persistence were a painting, it would be a noble and romantic one with subjects partially clothed, supple and strong.
Athletes on the international stage, Olympians or not, train endlessly with high frequency optimism and competitiveness. They don’t stop trying.
Though if you want to change your life, I suggest you do the opposite. Give up.
Giving up is not letting go or quitting. Giving up is leaving a situation that is not worth changing. The hard part – the journey to change – is to admit that the situation is not worth changing.
There is a stigma of laziness, incompetence and flightiness associated with giving up. However, isn’t it a character strength to put your foot down and say: Fine, have it your way, I’m outta here?
In my post 18 months later I said that leaving the corporate world felt like winning Survivor. It was easy to leave. It was hard to decide to leave, though, because I thought, then, that giving up was a character flaw.
It was a February afternoon on Wellington Street, three years ago, when I had my ‘aha’ moment. I realized that I had a choice and I didn’t have to stay lost. I could give it up for something that would make me happier.
Persistence has never rewarded me as much as giving up has.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
My name is Boston. I found a can of corn and left it on the family room floor and my ears bother me so I shake my head. That’s no reason to give up on me. I think I can still beat up Archie even though he is bigger.
My name is Boston
Danielle,
This post resonated with me, I was in the same position back in 2005 when I left the world of sales and went back to school for public relations.
It was great seeing you at Podcamp yesterday.