I know, just as most people do, the feeling of dread that can overcome us all from time to time. This feeling seems to creep up after you've made some progress towards your goals, but then roadblocks or barriers appear. They quickly become too much to handle and make you want to quit. Giving up might seem easier than pressing onward and achieving your dreams.
I've been there. Anyone who has ever accomplished something noteworthy has been there. It's a common feeling that many people experience as they pursue their dreams. I've encountered the desire to give up with almost everything goal I've set out to achieve.
Sometimes I have given up, and I've regretted it. Other times I've pushed through it and I've reaped the rewards of reaching my goals. One thing I've discovered throughout my many ventures is that the time when you feel like giving up is when you need to fight harder than ever.
Why is that? It's because you've already made significant progress to even reach such a barrier. The barrier is actually a signpost that you're even moving in the right direction. You know when churning butter was the most difficult? When it was just about ready to become the delicious spread that the churner could enjoy.
Successful People Who Didn't Give Up
Don't take my word for it though. There are countless people who fought through the barrier of wanting to give up and reached their goals. Many of these goals made them famous. If you're looking for some inspiration, check out these outstanding stories:
- J.K. Rowling. Known for writing the revolutionary Harry Potter novels, she wasn't always a world class novelist. In 1994, three years before penning the first Harry Potter book, she was recently divorced and on government aid. Her daily struggle was simply to feed her baby. Yet, she had an idea for a novel she wanted to bring into this world. Once she was finished, she was still unable to afford a computer or even the photocopying fees to send out her novel to different publishers. It was rejected over a dozen times. She must have wanted to quit after the first rejection, let alone the tenth rejection. Yet, she pushed on, didn't give up and now she's responsible for one of the most meaningful book series of the past twenty years. Not to mention a million miles away from depending on government aid.
- Jim Carrey. How many of us have laughed at the hilarious Jim Carrey? I have, and I'm sure you have on more than one occasion. He worked hard to earn the career we all now appreciate. When he was 14, his father lost his job and their entire family had to move into a VW van. At such a young age, he took an 8-hour a day job after school at a factory just to help support the family. When he was 15 he stepped on stage for the first time to try his hand at standup comedy. You might expect that he was a comedy prodigy, but he wasn't. He bombed, not a single laugh in the house. You better believe he wanted to give up and pursue a more financially secure future. He overcame that feeling and landed his big score with "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" The rest is history.
The barrier your feeling when you want to give up is natural. Don't feel bad for it. However, don't let it stop you. Persevere. You never know what's waiting for you on the other side of that barrier. You might have a bestselling novel or a legendary acting career just around the corner.