I am struggling today. If you have ever struggled to be consistent with something you care about, maybe my struggle will resonate with you too.
No matter how successful you are in life and business, success doesn’t give you immunity from humanity. We all have days where we don’t want to get out of bed. But…what happens when this feeling lasts for days or weeks or months? What happens when we feel like we’ve lost purpose and we just want to give up, whether on a career or relationship?
I’ve identified the seven things you need to do when you feel like giving up.
1. Go Back To ‘Why’
As Simon Sinek says, it starts with ‘why.’ Occasionally, we start with one vision in mind and end up moving so far away from why we started a business, job or relationship in the first place that we end up lost and questioning our decisions and actions.
Maybe you can’t remember the last time you were happy. Perhaps your big colorful picture of where you wanted to head has slowly turned to black and white. Get back that clarity! Every 90 days, revisit your big ‘why’ to ensure you’re on track and achieving what you want.
2. Learn to Feel Uncomfortable
Life is not easy nor is it meant to be. We are always facing hurdles and obstacles that we must overcome, which is all part of the journey. If you can accept that things will get tough and it won’t always be roses and sweet-smelling kittens, you’ll get yourself better prepared for what’s to come.
When you feel stuck in a rut, you must learn to breathe, reset and revisit your goals. What is it that you’re going for in business and in life? A simple readjustment and a brief ‘time out’ can dramatically move you forward like you never thought possible.
3. Win Through Persistence
Winston Churchill said,
“If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time – a tremendous whack.”
Persistence is the key if you want to win. I’ve felt like giving up many times during my entrepreneurial journey and the persistence to make things happen has kept me going. Understanding and truly believing that persistence delivers results will keep you moving forward.
4. Share Your Goals
You wake up and decide that today is the day you’ll quit smoking. You start the morning strong, but don’t want to mention it to anyone at work in case you feel like one at afternoon tea…
Find an ‘accountability buddy‘ to keep you on track. Sure, this is scary, but it ensures you deliver on your promise to yourself. Make sure the other person will show you some tough love. This will keep you honest and continually taking action.
5. Acknowledge Challenges
Oh yes, there will be tough times – but you already know this. When you feel like giving up because it’s too tough, it’s not a surprise as you knew the journey wouldn’t be full of rainbows and bunnies.
6. Get Happy
We all get in a funk every now and again. That’s just the way we’re built. But, instead of lying on the sofa eating ice cream out of the tub and putting on your favorite sitcom, get happy!
Think back to the last time you were really thriving in your life. Think about what you were doing and make that happen again! For me, it’s music. I’ll turn up the volume, whack on the iPod and play my favorite high-energy tracks to get me buzzed.
7. Be Proud
Sometimes, we forget to stop and smell the flowers. Along those lines, we also forget to celebrate the victories our efforts have created.
Be proud of where you have come from and what you’ve achieved. Every 90 days, review the last three months, and soak up your achievements no matter how small they are. Learn How To Celebrate Small Wins To Achieve Big Goals.
Final Thoughts
The next time you feel like giving up, ask yourself if you’ve done everything possible in your current situation to maximize the opportunity.
Have you experienced all the learnings, happiness and pain associated with what you want to achieve? If the answer is no, then keep going until you have!