I grew up in a house where being a quitter was frowned upon. Where, if you started something, you had to finish it. But what’s the price? Is it really worth sticking with something if it doesn’t make you happy?
The answer, my friends, is no. The truth is, you don’t have to settle, and you shouldn’t.
You don’t have to stay friends with someone you don’t like.
If they don’t make you laugh, if they don’t give you energy, if they’re not there for you when you really need them, then they’re not good friends. Maybe you’re afraid of hurting their feelings, of being alone, or maybe you’re even holding onto that person because they have good connections. But let’s be real – life is too short to waste time on shitty people. So don’t put up with it.
You don’t have to stick with something you don’t like.
Maybe you thought you would like something, but you were wrong. Maybe you thought you would gain a valuable skill, or should improve on something you’re bad at. Maybe it’s a club, maybe it’s a job, maybe it’s a class, or maybe it’s your major. If you don’t enjoy it, if it doesn’t give you life, then don’t stay with it. Don’t stick with it because “It’ll look good on a resume,” or “It’ll give me an edge up in life,” or “This looks like a promising major/career,” or “This is what so-and-so wants.” Because you’re setting yourself up for failure (and a lot of misery).
You can choose what you want to do—what you’re good at—and quit everything else. By quitting everything that isn’t a good fit for you (and that you don’t like), you will eventually land where you are supposed to be – on a path that fulfills you and makes you happy.
Quitting sooner gives you more opportunity to figure out what’s right for you. What lies ahead is your unknown future, and it’s what you’re giving up by doing other things. By quitting the things that don’t give you joy, you have more time to find those things that do, leading to a more fulfilling and successful life.
No one cares about your happiness more than you. You’re the one who has to live your life day in and day out. Instead of continuing to do something you don’t enjoy, go against the grain and quit. Your happiness depends on it. It’s better to quit now, even if the people around you don’t understand your decision. You have to live with yourself, and you are responsible for your own happiness.
So quit the drama, quit settling, quit being miserable, quit living someone else’s dream and live for yourself instead. Because time is a precious thing, and you should be using it to do the things you love. You only live once, right? So don’t waste it.
