This last Thursday, Don shared with us his presentation on “ The Fine Art of Quitting Without Giving Up”

Every once in a while, we all may run across a time in our lives when we need to quit something to make a change.  

But we don’t always know which path is better.   Once you start a new journey, such as taking a new med for example.  You make question yourself if the new med is right or wrong for you?  Or is there a bear in your path preventing you from moving on?  

It’s usually about what works for us and what doesn’t.  And we don’t know what we don’t know until we had down a new path.  

If you’re working in a job where you have been for many years, if you’re not feeling fulfilled from day to day you may feel like quitting that job.

But everyone keeps on telling you don’t quit, just keep pushing through.

But remember great things rarely happen without a struggle. 

However if your commitment is attached to the right mission, it will give you some momentum.

We may seek healing, but sometimes we refuse to release our obsession with familiar things.

You might become efficient at something, but that job may actually drain you.

You may grow tired of doing the same thing every day.

But progress isn’t always about adding more effort. 

A little addition by subtraction may help when you’re considering a career change. 

Sometimes you may need to remove what no longer fits.  And add something that is more aligned with your goals.  What matters is not your failures, but what that journey taught you. 

The pain that you may have felt was necessary.  Remember your time and energy are valuable!  You can quit part of your plan but don’t quit the journey.

Keep believing in yourself even if progress is slow.

Below are three signs that it may be time to let go of your current job. 

Watch for these signals, especially after you’ve genuinely tried to improve the situation.

1. Chronic Drain

Every meaningful pursuit takes effort. Everybody experiences difficult seasons.

But there’s a difference between something challenging you and something continually depleting you.

You’ve adjusted your approach. Set boundaries. Asked for help. Made changes.

And still, it leaves you drained before it begins, drained while you’re doing it, and drained long after it’s over. 

2. Pride Erosion

Ask yourself: 
Do I respect the person I’m becoming?

Does this thing add to the authentic self I am building?

Not whether other people approve.

Not whether it looks successful from the outside.

Do you feel proud of what you are doing?  

You, not your friends, not the people on facebook, all that matters is what is inside you.

Sometimes we stay committed to things because they’re working, even after they’ve stopped feeling meaningful. This is sort of like treading water.  You are just trying to keep your head above the surface until you can find the next thing to swim toward.

Success without fulfillment can become its own trap. 

3. You’ve Outgrown the Season

Something can be exactly right for one chapter of your life and completely wrong for the next.

The goals you had five years ago, or even five weeks ago, aren’t necessarily the goals you have today.  You must keep checking in with yourself and making course corrections.

The identity that got you here isn’t always the identity that will get you where you’re going.

Growth requires us to release what we’ve outgrown.

We don’t quit a job when it’s difficult, but maybe when it doesn’t fit the person we are becoming.  But remember to leave your job with integrity.  Know what you’re saying yes to before making that commitment to the new job.

Move from having to endure everything to choosing what matters.

Do not be afraid of throwing away what no longer fits.  Quit what no longer matters.