We've all heard some version of the saying that begins "when the going gets tough." But the reality is that when things get difficult, even the tough find it very tempting to look for reasons to give up. And to be fair, quitting can be the right decision -- but the hidden costs of that choice mislead us into thinking that the relief of giving up is worth the disappointment of not finishing.
When we come upon a massive barrier to accomplishing a goal, the level of desire to gain whatever we see as the ultimate reward is directly related to the price we are willing to pay to overcome the barrier.
If our goal is to earn a specific degree in college, it isn't the degree itself that keeps us going through the difficult classes or enormous financial costs -- it's the ultimate reward of a coveted lifestyle or opportunity to work within a specific field that forces us to dig deep in the difficult moments where quitting seems to be so much easier than continuing. The degree is just a piece of paper; it's what that piece of paper makes possible that we see as the ultimate reward.
If we've chosen to become an entrepreneur, it is rarely the job itself that we see as the big reward; it is seeing our idea becoming a reality, our solution to a problem put into action that fuels us to give up so much to see that vision through to fruition.
But, whatever the goal, when things get difficult, we begin weighing the cost in front of us with the value of that ultimate reward. We start to doubt whether we are actually capable of finishing the goal, whether we'd really like the results of finishing, and we begin to think of ways to lessen the goal to something that wouldn't take nearly as deep a toll on us financially, physically, emotionally or mentally. We allow ourselves to rationalize why quitting would be better. We would have more time again. We wouldn't be so broke, because we could do something easier to make money right away. We would have more time to pursue a hobby. We could put all of our energy into a new interest that looks easier to do and like a lot more fun that what we're trying to accomplish now. The reasons, really, are limitless.
Quitting brings instant relief. The pressure is off. The fear of failing is over since quitting isn't the same as failing (or so we tell ourselves). And the temporary disappointment we feel and that others may express will pass. Besides, it's not their life, it's ours, so if we're ok with the decision, everyone else can just get on board or keep it to themselves. Ah, yes, it is so alluring to quit.
But what we don't take into consideration nearly often enough is the hidden costs of quitting. That temporary disappointment we feel in ourselves? It's not temporary. It's permeates every facet of our psyche and has a powerful effect on our future decisions. When we find a new goal for ourselves, we begin that goal with the knowledge that we might quit without reaching it. It makes it harder to begin again and easier to quit the next time. When we measure ourselves up against our competition, we secretly believe that we may not go as far as they will, because we might quit when they're still committed and willing to pay a higher cost to get to success. We start making smaller choices, safer decisions, and we start seeing ourselves as less-than.
Sometimes we will fail. But the long term cost of failing isn't nearly as devastating if we've given everything we could to try to achieve our goal as it is when failure comes by quitting. And, yes, sometimes the right decision is to quit. Sometimes the price is too high. Sometimes we weren't realistic when we set out to achieve some goal. Sometimes the timing just isn't right. Sometimes a need arises that supersedes our desire to accomplish a goal. And when that is truly the case, the challenge will come in reminding ourselves of the actual facts of why we quit when we begin to doubt our ability to see something through to the end. In those instances, we must remember that sometimes the sacrifice of giving up is the right price to pay to meet a higher need.
But far too often we tell ourselves we're quitting to meet a higher need when the reality is that the cost of continuing just looks far too expensive. It gets harder before it gets easier. It looks more impossible right before the solution becomes clear. And we will never, ever know the incredible joy and satisfaction of success if we quit when we're on the dark side of difficulty.
The next time you're tempted to give up on a goal, ask yourself if it is worth living with that choice the rest of your life. Ask if the future regret will be worth the relief now. Your answer may surprise you, and it may be the fuel you need to push through when the going gets tough.