[specialbox]Note: This is a guest post by Nicki Koziarz. Nicki is an author and speaker with Proverbs 31 Ministries. Visit 5habitsbook.com to learn more about her best-selling book, 5 Habits of a Woman Who Doesn't Quit.[/specialbox]
Hi, I’m Nicki, and I'm an expert quitter! You read that right. I’ve quit pretty much everything at some point in my life. From dreams to workout programs, the list is endless.
And if you need to know how to quit something, come see me. I can help you find the perfect way out.
Eventually, though, I got sick of being “her,” a woman who gave up so easily. Because who wants to be known as a quitter?
So, I’ve done a lot of self-reflection the past few years. And I found out I wasn’t the only one quitting. After taking a poll of my blog readers, I discovered a common thread. My readers said their number one struggle was falling into the same cycle of defeat over and over.
This isn't something only my blog readers struggle with. Andy Stanley once said that 90% of people who feel led to do “something significant” may start it but never see it all the way through to completion. Whether we want to admit it or not, quitting is something our culture is struggling with.
Tools to help you keep on going
There’s no perfect rhythm or formula for overcoming this constant opposition in our lives, but I’ve found some helpful tools to keep me going. And today I want to share three questions that are helping me overcome giving in to the temptation to give up.
1. Is it time to quit this or is it time to finish it?
There’s a difference between quitting something and finishing something. We should quit things like unhealthy relationships, bad habits, or things that are not making our souls well. But maybe the desire to give up on an assignment is more of a need to finish it?
Evaluate whether your assignment has a finish line or if it’s something you’re going to have to keep working through. Also, seeking a trusted friend’s opinion on your decision and perspective can be incredibly helpful.
2. Am I looking for an easy button?
I have found most people want to give up because it just gets hard. And I totally get this. I’ve often wondered why it’s so hard and complicated to fulfill the things we were created to do. Shouldn’t it be easy?
Well, one of the things I love about the Bible is that it never tells us this life will be easy, but it does say with God, all things are possible (Matt. 19:26).
I don’t fully understand the strength of God, but I know it meets me when I feel the weakest. So sometimes it means I have to let my soul go through some hard places. And hard places aren’t fun, but they are the places our character has the most potential to develop.
3. Is there one more step?
A wise scholar once defined perseverance as, “A long obedience in the same direction.” Maybe there’s one more step in the right direction you need to take before you follow through with your desire to take a detour.
What if it’s just one more workout to push you past the plateau or one more time to pitch your book idea? I don’t want to be laying in a bed of “what if’s” at the end of my life. So consider if you’ve exhausted every option before you throw in the towel.
You are not defined by what you quit
Quitting isn’t really my story or yours. It’s a blog post, it’s a chapter in a book, but it’s not who we are. Within each of us is a spirit of perseverance. We want to finish. Some of us just may need to dust that spirit off a little more than others. And if that’s where you find yourself today, it’s ok. Me too.
But let’s not stay there. Let’s mix our footwork with our faith and see these mountains in our lives start to move.
Keep these three questions close by and the next time you’re ready to give “it” up, take a moment to ask them and consider their answer.
What is something you have recently given up on but believe you shouldn't have quit? How can you get back on track? Share in the comments.