It’s too hard.
Who do I think I am?
I can’t do this. It’s too much.
I can’t handle this anymore.
I give up.
I quit.
We all have heard these voices in our heads and have felt like throwing in the towel. We feel like a failure.
Perhaps we have taken on too much at once. We have tried to eat a year’s worth of meals in one sitting, and now we are so full we cannot move – unable to take another step.
Or maybe we started at a sprint and lost our steam in the marathon of business. We are exhausted and have no more reserves.
Or perhaps we lose our confidence. We have tried so many different approaches but are rejected over and over and over again.
Just when life seems to get better, we face yet another challenge, and no matter how hard we try, we can’t seem to succeed. Or maybe it’s another reason.
Life can be So. Stinking. Hard. And maybe you have just had enough.
Many people experience a challenge, lose their momentum, and quit before hitting real success. Did you know that 20% of U.S. small businesses fail within the first year, 50% after five years, and only a third of companies have survived after ten years? Yes, those are some dismal figures, but the good news is that success is on the horizon if you can overcome the hurdles and keep momentum.
As in any good film, the protagonist goes through significant challenges and pitfalls while overcoming obstacles to win the day.
The hero may lose everything, and we gasp as they spend most of the movie trying to get their lives back or regain an unobtainable relationship. We grasp our popcorn tightly as we watch them overcome one challenge after another.
In the end, they succeed, we cheer, and everyone goes home happy.
Great, so how do I keep going?
Creating real success requires our willingness to fail repeatedly and explore new ideas. We shift our perspective, letting our curiosity spark creativity, innovation, and growth.
Instead of giving up, become curious. Instead of taking failure as a rejection, say “oh, that’s interesting” and try something new.
Instead of feeling defeated, take a step back and reassess with openness towards other possibilities and a solution.
Look at obstacles to create new opportunities. And most importantly, just keep going. Our resilience breeds success.
That sounds impossible. Give me an example.
Did you know that Thomas Edison failed 1,000 times before successfully inventing the light bulb?
Even more remarkably, in 1914, he lost years of his work, including all of his records and prototypes.
When his plant burnt down, he stood there in enjoyment and said to his son, “Go get your mother and all her friends. They’ll never see a fire like this again.”(Reader’s Digest, 1961)
He was later quoted in the New York Times “Although I am over 67 years old, I’ll start all over again tomorrow.” He started rebuilding the next day.
Imagine if Thomas had given up and quit. Imagine how different our world would be today. Instead, he took failure as an opportunity to create something new.
Our failures are a necessary step towards success.
Imagine what the world would be missing if you gave up?
With each rejection, we are one step closer to achieving our goals. As Thomas said, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention of 1,000 steps.”
Our rejection is just a redirection.
That’s great, but I’m not Thomas Edison.
Okay, well, this can relate to you too. This mindset is possible for anyone.
Let me tell you my own personal story.
I have had many moments when I wanted to quit. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer, and I spent over a year on intense treatment that was not working. The side effects among many included pain, weight gain, insomnia, and extreme exhaustion. It was, in a word, debilitating.
I woke up each day with the same hope that the subsequent biopsy would be clear with no luck. I felt like a failure. Finally, my doctor even gave up on me, threatening to fire me as a patient if I didn’t opt-in for the recommended surgery.
I just wanted to quit. Everything in my body wanted to give up.
But instead, I chose to move from the passenger seat to the driver’s seat in my own life. I decided to look at what I could do differently.
I researched everything I possibly could on what I could do, and how to take action.
Starting with watching every known Netflix documentary on becoming plant-based, cancer recovery, and removing toxins, I graduated to articles, YouTube, podcasts, and anything and everything I could get my hands on.
Next, I looked at what steps I could take to make a difference in my situation. I wanted to give up at every turn, but I didn’t. I refused to quit.
I decided to take action, eliminating all toxins and additives from my diet to become entirely plant-based. I loved cheeseburgers (and I mean loved them!). But I was willing to try something new. And also, I didn’t know how to cook. I didn’t know any of the ingredients. I didn’t know where to find anything.
But I figured it out. I learned how to eat balanced plant-based meals; I learned how to cook. And at the same time, I worked to eliminate toxins from my mindset.
After a month, I became cancer-free and am currently 2.5 years in remission. I wanted to quit. Believe me. But each day, we wake up and have a choice. I chose to focus on what I wanted. When we focus on what we want, the how will always fall into place with the right mindset.
Now back to you
So, when you find yourself in a slump, when you want to quit, when you have had enough, take a moment and think about what you want. You can always figure out the how.
Throughout life, we will need persistence and resilience. Even when it’s hard, we need to remember to take just one more step.
What one action can you take towards your goal to create a better outcome? What one thing can you accomplish today? This will help you build momentum towards your success.
Just remember, the only way to fail is to quit. Keep going, one step at a time. You are capable. You can do this.
And if you are looking for extra support on your journey,
book a free call Here! I would love to connect!
X Michele
