What Can You Gain By Giving Up?
I admit it, I’m a quitter.
I give up on things all the time.
And here’s the best part: it feels soooo good!
I want to spread the word that it’s possible to gain so much by giving up.
There is a worldwide epidemic of people taking on too much!
- Too many responsibilities and projects at work and at home
- Too many possessions and knick knacks
- Too many judgments about yourself and others
- Too many bad habits and behaviors
Our lives have been supersized and stuffed…and that’s not a good thing.
Do you ever wonder how previous generations survived without having so many obligations and distractions?
Somehow, they were OK without buying a new electronic gizmo that becomes obsolete in 6 months. They were fine without filling their days with appointments, get-togethers, and “busy-ness” from morning to night. They seemed satisfied with fresh ingredients in their meals and rarely ate overly processed food from a box.
The problem is we feel like we’re missing out if we don’t “keep up with the Joneses.”
Can we really be happier without adding more and more to our lives?
We can!
It might sound strange at first, but by giving up some things in your life, you’ll be opening yourself up to better things like more time and more relaxation. Oh, and don’t forget more money!
Take a good look at everything going on in your life: obligations with family and friends, clubs and activities you participate in, the items in your home, the food you eat.
Consider eliminating some of the mental, physical, and spiritual clutter from your life.
- Is there an activity you’d like to quit so you can have that time back?
- Would you be more content with fewer items crowding your bookcase and coffee table?
- Is there a friendship you’d like to give up on because it doesn’t fill you with happiness anymore?
- Did you start a hobby thinking that you’d like it, but now it’s just a burden?
There can be some big gains when you give up including more time, energy, peace of mind, and calmness.
Of course, I don’t recommend giving up on things that are truly important and meaningful like your marriage, supportive friendships, or your dream and goals. Some things are worth the effort.
Have you given up or quit on something? How did it feel?
In the comments below, let me know one thing you want to give up and what you’ll gain in return.
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I think Ally has the right point. I’ve let a lot of things go, but they get filled with better activities. I can’t stand to be idle because I tend to fill that time with bad television and unfulfilling stuff. So I opt to swap rather than straight quit.
I have quit two very bad jobs, but went back to college and started my own small business. Now I’m trying to decide if that’s something I want to continue pursuing while finishing school.
Smart advice. We need to be realistic about our activities and prioritize them ruthlessly. Running around frantically leads only to stress and inefficiency. Wise to look back when there were fewer demands on people.
I gave up on a motorcycle club a few years back when it turned into a sinkhole of effort and little reward. I worried about the hole leaving would create, but I quickly filled it with better activity.
Another awesome post Sage! You are right, I think we overextend ourselves a lot, and we would all benefit from pulling back a little. It may seem like an odd thing to say to someone that doesn’t know my position, but one thing I’d like to give up is being overdedicated at work. I have been at my job for 4.5 years. I work overtime, I care more about projects than other people, I take the blame for things that are not my fault and overall I just care and do too much. I am consistently passed over for advancement and it has become clear to me that no matter what I do I will not get further ahead. I’ve decided it is time to take a step back, go in and do my work and then come home. I will gain my health and sanity back. I have to take care of myself rather than put my energy into a seemingly thankless job.
Thanks for this post. It kind of gave me that last little push I needed to take a step back and start enjoying my life as opposed to spending all of my time doing something that does not make me happy. 🙂