We are taught quitters never win. And certainly there is a time to push ourselves and never give up. But when we’re heading in the wrong direction, wisdom reminds us there is also a time to quit.
If we’re trying to get to New York and all the signs are showing we’re getting closer to L.A., we’re heading the wrong way.
It’s time to quit and turn around, or readjust our end destination.
Too often we simply stick with what we’ve always done.
And even when it’s not getting us where we want to go, we feel guilty for quitting because of how much time we’ve already spent in this direction.
For instance, we stay at a dead end job or in a toxic relationship because we don’t want to “waste” the time we’ve already put in.
But a tree is known by its fruit. And if the fruit is not good, it’s time to quit and cut the tree down.
What is the fruit of our current actions, relationships, and direction in life?
When good fruit is not being produced, it’s time to quit.
This is not giving up prematurely or lacking in endurance to see something through to the end. Rather, it’s wisdom and discernment.
Quitting something that produces bad fruit allows us to focus our time and energy on what produces the good.
And while it’s not easy to change direction when we’ve been doing something for so long, the cost of continuing the wrong way is too high.
Practice endurance. But when the direction you’re going in is not producing good fruit, it’s time to quit.
Don’t let the guilt of quitting keep you on the wrong way in your life and relationships.
Photo by Free To Use Sounds on Unsplash
One Comment