Here’s an Unpopular Opinion: “Quit Your Goals!”
Everyone sets goals in order to improve themselves and their overall quality of life; from studying hard to achieve their dream career to keeping fit, working hard to improve their finances, spending quality time with family and friends, etc. Though personally fulfilling, these goals often come with a lot of responsibilities and sacrifices. When we set our minds on exciting new year’s resolutions or longer-term ambitions that we’ve been yearning for since childhood, we usually have every intention of achieving them. But a few months or even years later, we may find out that the pursuit of these goals is draining us and leaving us exhausted with no room to enjoy life. At this point, many of us may feel the need to reconsider whether this pursuit is worth the effort, or perhaps whether our own goals need to be re-examined. Someone who has worked very hard since high school might achieve that impressive career, but a few years down the line, they might feel overwhelmed to the point of quitting. This is because even though the job is well paying, it’s equally as demanding, leaving them exhausted with no time to spend with family, on leisure, or other critical duties.
The reason why most of us don’t give up on our goals is that human beings are over-ambitious by nature and often overestimate their ability to get things done within a specific period of time. We are initially excited as we set our goals, thinking only about their future completion, without considering the consequences their execution might have on our lives. People who venture into what many perceive as impossible win renown as winners and achievers; hence, we try to stick to our goals no matter the struggles or repercussions.
Even though society urges us not to be quitters, sometimes it is better to give up on our goals because, in the end, it might bring success in a way we were not expecting. We may be so used to our routine that trying to change may be difficult; we hope that things will improve, despite the overwhelming stress and increasing demands. There is nothing wrong with quitting because this may be a pathway towards change and growth. Giving up does not indicate that you are a failure, as it requires a lot of willpower to give up the same thing you’ve been working so long for. Several things can contribute to you changing your mind about a particular goal. Here are some of the signs to watch out for, the signs that it’s time for you to allow yourself to stop pushing on with your plan.
1. The reward is not worth it
If you feel the effort you are putting into your goal is not worth the reward you receive in return, it is time to give up. You may promise yourself that you’ll lose 30 pounds, which may seem easy at the initial stage, but once you start the journey, you realize the process towards achieving your ideal weight is quite grueling and expensive. You may find out the results are not worth all the time, energy, and money you invested.
2. Your goals have changed
Sometimes a goal you thought was ideal a few months or years ago may seem not as crucial to your life anymore. Having an objective does not mean you have to stick with it indefinitely. You can change your mind if you think it is no longer compatible with what you want, or your circumstances. To decide and work towards new goals, you need to let go of the ones you feel are not working for you anymore, instead of having a static life because you were afraid to quit.
3. The risks are more than the benefits
We are usually so over-ambitious when setting goals that we do not properly weigh both the benefits and the risks we will face in the process of accomplishing them. Ensure to evaluate your goal and where you feel it will bring an adverse effect on your finances, health, or relationship, and whether that cost will be worth it.
4. The process doesn’t align well with your values
Although the goal may seem like a good one, the process of achieving it may not align so well with your principles and what you really value in life. Committing all your time to a particular project may leave you with little time to spend with family and even less energy for other ventures. Giving your all to one goal restricts you from keeping up with, and enjoying, other things that matter to you.
5. If you got yourself in a difficult situation
The moment when you’ve put everything you have into a project that doesn’t seem to be progressing, it would be wise to give it up and think of starting another one. You may have invested a lot of your money, time, and effort in a business that is not growing, but you still cling to it, hoping it will magically improve in the future. But this fantasy will only make things worse as it hinders you from trying something new that might work better for you.
Quitting a goal should not be a hasty decision, but when one feels the goal is not adding value to our life, it’s okay to give it up. You should not fear giving up on your goal for fear of being branded a failure. As long as you keep moving forward and setting new goals and directions for your life, you will have a better opportunity at future success.
