Permission to Quit

[Work – I]

Quit is a four-letter cuss word for some people, but it’s the right decision sometimes. The opposite of quitting is perseverance, right? Not really.

The opposite of quitting is not trying harder.
It’s not sheer effort.
It’s not stick-to-it-ness.

When we make those the antonym, quitting means weakness or a lack of effort. (And the people I know with the hardest time quitting are not remotely weak.)

The opposite of quitting is stubborn commitment. And stubbornness is blind. It’s not discerning. It’s delusional.

The opposite of quitting is a hero, rescuer, or savior mentality, and it can cause more damage in the end.

The opposite of quitting resists feedback, input, and other perspectives.

Take off your cape, grab a trusted friend (or coworker), and take a hard look at whether quitting will actually get you closer to where you want to get in the end.

If you need it, here’s your permission to quit.