Quitting feels good

She quit being a HOPA

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I like quitting. It’s easy.  All I have to do is to stop doing whatever it is that is causing me discomfort.  If I’m exercising, it feels good to quit before the reps that really burn.  If I’m watching my diet, it feels good to quit when the canoli at the bakery counter looks extra delicious. I might call it a break or be even more honest and call it a “cheat,” but what it really is – quitting – feels good.

I have to honest with you. I’ve quit more times than I care to remember, much less admit.  And at the time, the excuses always make perfect sense.  You can’t finish that book, you have other things to do. You can’t stick to that running program, you don’t have enough time.  And every time that I didn’t pick up the book, I felt good watching TV. Every time I didn’t run, I felt good sleeping in. 

But I’ve come to realize, that while quitting feels good – being awesome feels great.  And being awesome means that I get it done, get it in, and get it on even when I don’t feel like it (see earlier post).  One of the best feelings in the world to me is when I finish the day’s exercise regimen that I had spend 15 minutes trying to talk myself out of doing (it might also have to do with the fact that working out releases endorphins, but there’s no need to split hairs right now). Regardless of the activity, sticking to it and finishing feels great.

So my advice for today is stick to it…there is no doubt something awesome that you gave up on. The finish line may have seemed too far away. The light at the end of the tunnel may have seemed too dim. And quitting just seemed to feel too good. And since I know that we don’t like to quit doing something that feels good, I’ll allow you to quit one more thing: Quitting.

Pic lifted from The Chive.