The Difference Between Quitting and Giving Up

When you “quit,” you decide something isn’t worth continuing.

Sometimes it makes sense to quit; to stop something that either wasn’t worth starting (but you only know that now) or isn’t worth continuing.

Even if you have invested time, energy and money in something, sometimes it’s better to cut your losses and stop.

*  *  *

Giving up is something all together different.

Giving up is letting adversity, or difficulty, or even a little challenge discourage you (and stopping . . . ).

Giving up hurts (at least) twice: once when you do it and again when(ever) you think back and wish you had continued.

*  *  *

How do you tell the difference between quitting and giving up?

Experience.

How do get that sort of experience?

By having quit some and given up some – and paying attention to how each feels.

I am sure you’ve done both.

Take the time to consider how different experiences from your past feel. Don’t worry, you’ll be able to tell the difference.

Understand the difference? Can you feel the difference? Remember the difference.

Now you have the awareness necessary to know when you’re quitting and when you’re giving up.

Do the former when necessary; avoid the latter at all times.

Similar Posts

  • How To Never (Want To) Retire

    I just read yet another article on how retirement isn’t the panacea people think it is (at least for those financially prepared for retirement… ). People seem to have this idea that they will do everything they want when retire (i.e., all the things they said they couldn’t do while working) and live a life of…

  • Conceiving *and* Believing

    Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve. – Napoleon Hill Napoleon Hill is a giant in the self-development canon. He is revered, and oft-quoted, by many. But many mis-understand – and un-duly dismiss – one of his more famous quotes. When Hill says anything we can conceive and believe, we can achieve, people scoff…

  • The Three Things

    In terms of dreams/goals/desires there are only three variations: 1) Things You Want 2) Things You Don’t (Really) Want 3) Things You Think You Can’t Have *  *  * Just stating that’s there’s a mere trinity of “things-we-want” is likely to rub some the wrong way. But it’s true. Let’s take #1: Things You Want….

  • The Difference Between Asking and Being Willing to Receive

    Sometimes, but not always, there’s a difference between asking for something and accepting it and being willing to receive what’s offered. This post was inspired by some thing from Jonathan Fields; I recommend reading that post here. When we ask for something, it’s what we want. It so often comes from a place of Ego….

  • Paying the Price

    “The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” – Henry David Thoreau I love this quote because it reminds us that there is no such thing as something-for-nothing. Whether it be money, time or character, we trade something precious for every result we create in our lives. When we embrace…

  • The Gift Persistence Conveys

    We are made to persist. That’s how we find out who we are. – Tobias Wolff I often speak of being grateful for whatever comes your way. “Good” or “bad.” Everything is feedback. Everything is a lesson. Everything is a springboard. Whatever happens, use it. Use “it” to find out what you’re made of, what you…