Let’s say you decide to take a run after a longer period of being physically inactive. It will be hard. You’ll start with great enthusiasm, but you’ll get tired too quickly. You’ll want to quit way before you reach the target.
Do you know what most fitness trainers will tell you at that moment? Move on when you feel like quitting.
When you feel tired and you want to stop, they will tell you to gather your last forces and keep going. You’ll do that, and you’ll feel like a winner. If you make this effort, you’ll beat the fatigue and you’ll surprise yourself with your stamina.
Move on when you feel like quitting is a great piece of advice that we can apply to life in general.
Imagine life as a running track. It’s not all smooth and comfy. It’s rather a bumpy road full of obstacles. Just when you think you’ve overcome a huge bump, you’re faced with another one. Oh, you’ll feel like quitting at one point or another. You’ll just want to sit there, watching everyone else’s journey and not getting engaged. But that’s not an option. Moving on is the only option you have, and all of us know it.
It’s hard to push yourself to move when you lose strength. So how do you do it?
1. Think of Your Young Self
When you were young, you were open for all kinds of impressions. You didn’t hesitate to try new things. You were disappointed with your first love, but you moved on. You were devastated when your best friend hurt you, but you carried on. Those moments of pain are not the things you usually think of when you remind yourself about being young.
You think of the good stuff, since there was plenty of it. Parties, friendships, love, laughter, and powerful experiences.
The older you is responsible for creating more of the good stuff. There’s a huge burden on your shoulders, and it doesn’t allow you to move on. When you open yourself to good experiences, you build muscle and the burden becomes easier to carry.
2. Write About It
When you’re really stuck in a situation and you see no way out of it, write about it! You don’t have to be a great writer. Don’t worry; nobody is going to read this. Just get a piece of paper and write how you feel. Write about what happened. Clear your mind and don’t try to censor it. If you write offensive things to yourself or to someone else, forgive your mind about those thoughts. Everything should come out, even the nastiest bits.
As you engage in this writing practice, you’ll start recognizing patterns. You’ll identify the things that make you miserable. Those are the things you have to change. When you identify the potential for change, you’ll be able to carry on with small, steady steps forward. Maybe it’s the tiny apartment that’s making you miserable. You could change that. Maybe it’s a passive-aggressive friend, partner or parent. You could change the development of the relationship, or you could simply isolate yourself from such influence. Maybe it’s your job. We know you could change that, too!
In this matter, the writing practice is better than a meditation because it keeps your thoughts on paper. But no one said you shouldn’t meditate! If you do it before you write, you’ll have plenty of material to get off your chest.
3. Share!
Do you have someone you can talk to? If you share your struggle with someone you trust, you’ll get unconditional support.
In a world where we all create perfect lives via social media, it’s getting hard for us to admit that things went wrong at some point. I bragged so much on Facebook about that job I just got… how am I going to admit that it makes me miserable? I posted so many pictures of me and my partner looking so happy… how on Earth am I going to say he’s not the right guy for me?
Sharing is important. No matter how hard it is, it will help. Call a friend or talk to your parents. They cannot read your mind and they cannot help unless you say what’s wrong. Tell them why you feel stuck and maybe you’ll get some important or enlightening advice.
4. Remember Your Reasons
You usually start things with great love and enthusiasm. That was the case with your career, your home, your marriage, your friendships… everything. But when you get to the point of being stuck, you don’t recall the reasons why you started that journey. The job gets hard, and you forget why you applied for it in the first place. You wanted to make a difference, right? Remind yourself of that fact and maybe the restored enthusiasm will push you forward. If you find that everything has been lost, maybe it’s time to move forward in a different direction, so you’ll start looking for another job.
When you feel stuck at something, remind yourself of the reasons why you started doing it. Write them down and see what happens!
5. Learn from the Experience
If you no longer feel happy with a partner, maybe it’s time for a change. A closed door is also an action that’s pushing you forward. If it’s the only way to get you unstuck, then make that change and do not even think of staying in the zone of doing nothing.
When you’re quitting a job, leaving a partner, or giving up on an important project, life is not easy on you. You struggle with regrets and you feel discouraged. Don’t despair! It’s a lesson and you can learn from it. Just don’t allow it to stop you from moving!
Movement is an inseparable part of life. Without it, everything would be gray and boring. We don’t want that. We want color and excitement. Let’s move towards it!