Give up your giving up habit
Persistence, persistence, persistence. It’s one step to achieving success that needs to be taken every single day.
However, all of us have given up on achieving something; and most of us have done it a lot that it has turned into a habit.
We probably gave up not long after we began or we gave up when we thought we had much longer to go, when in reality, success was only around the corner.
Bad habits like smoking have to be given up, but when it comes to dreams and goals; the ones that keep you up at night and you constantly think about, you can’t simply abandon ship.
It’s time for you to give up your giving up habit! Here’s how:
Identify why you give up
The first step you need to take is to figure out why you give up up goals. There could be a million reasons.
Such as:
- You thought you didn’t have enough money
- The naysayers got to you
- There was too much work
- You were working too long and not getting many results
- Your fears got in the way
- You focused too much on your weaknesses
Create positive pressure
One of the simplest, yet most powerful ways to keep yourself from giving up is to get positive pressure from friends and family.
Tell those who you truly trust what dreams and goals you’re working to achieve in the near future. They’ll help you, without really knowing; to not give up. They will ask how you’re doing with your pursuits; they might give you suggestions and advice. And lastly, they’ll give you positive pressure because you wouldn’t want to disappoint them by giving up. You want to make them proud.
I wouldn’t recommend telling “friends” and family who are constantly negative and belittle your ambitions, if they demotivate you. However, perhaps for you, these people may light a fiercer fire underneath your feet than anyone else because you want to prove them wrong. If that’s so, then share your dreams and goals with them too to add fuel to the flames.
Change your approach
When success is eluding you for what seems like forever, it may be a perfect time to modify your approach. You might be tackling a task in the wrong way and that is why you haven’t achieved much yet.
Here are a few ways to switch you approach:
- Instead of looking to earn a lot of money, put value and people first and money last.
- Extend the time in which you think you’ll achieve a goal. This might help relieve a little pressure and help you focus on the extended view of things, where success lies.
- Work on a goal every single day instead of every once and awhile.
- Add in some fun! Make sure you’re enjoying everything about the pursuit, even the hard work.
When you change an approach, your goal will remain the same, just the road to it may be from a different direction.
Throw out the “overnight” success concept
It’s one of the biggest misconceptions regarding success; that it’s often achieved overnight. It’s a main reason why people give up. It was for me.
Here’s a great quote from Eddie Cantor that sums up the reality of overnight success:
“It takes twenty years to become an overnight success.”
Remind yourself of what’s at stake
You’ve got to remember the main reasons why you need to achieve a goal. It could be to leave a job you hate, to get a better life for you and your loved ones, or it could be so you can change the world.
When you remind yourself of who’s counting on you and the high stakes of something that isn’t a game it’ll be harder for you to quit.
Take a break
Instead of outright giving up, perhaps you’re just burnt out and need a break to recharge.
Maybe you’ll greatly benefit from a few weeks or a month off.
Lay your excuses to rest
“I don’t have enough time.” “I don’t have enough money.” “I’m stupid.” “My life sucks.”
These excuses that many people give may seem legitimate reasons for giving up, however they’re anything but. They’re pathetic.
To show you that these are weak excuses here are two stories of people who struggled with difficult circumstances and had legitimate excuses to give up, but didn’t.
- Connie Culp
Connie was attacked five years ago by her husband. He shot her in the face with a shotgun. She didn’t die, but she was badly injured. The attack destroyed her face, leaving a giant hole in the center. Even after reconstructive surgery, she couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t taste or show expression in her face.
She had a right to give up but she refused to. Then five months ago she received the first full face transplant in the United States. As she continues to recover from the surgery she will be able to taste, breathe on her own and show expression in her face. She now has a new lease on life.
To learn more about her story, please read this article.
- Jacqueline Saburido
Jacqueline was riding with her friends one night in 1999 in Austin, Texas. A drunk driver was speeding down the road and swerved right towards their car. He hit them and on impact, 2 passengers died, 2 others were rescued from the flames, and Jacqueline was pinned in the front seat. The flames engulfed her and she was burned alive. Over 60% of her body had received burns and her face literally melted. She was unrecognizable and her life was changed forever.
Jacqueline could have given up but she decided to use what happened to her to help others. Now she is an advocate against drunk driving and uses her image to keep people from drinking and driving.
To learn more about her incredible story please visit her website.
Have you given up before? Was it for a legitimate reason? Or how do you keep yourself from giving up? Please share in the comment section below.
Related articles:
- 5 easy pieces to piecing together your purpose in life
- The art of getting off your ass
Photo by bk2204
5 Responses to “Give up your giving up habit”
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A true masterpiece. Love the article. It is quite obvious what needs to be done, I felt a little defeated myself but this article has given me some new approaches to my difficult or tremendously challenging goals.
Hey Benjamin,
Glad you enjoyed it so much! Thanks for the kind words.
Sometimes all it takes is a new approach.
Best wishes!
-Andrew
[...] posted here: Give up your giving up habit More Reading: Tax hikes stoke Americans to give up smoking (AFP) (Yahoo!7 Entertainment [...]
You must reinvent yourself. Change is progress
You must keep learning.
And above all, you must follow your heart.
Another great article. We especially enjoyed this one.
Thanks so much for reading and for the compliments!!
-Andrew