When You Feel Like Giving Up

Quitting isn't always the answer

Author

Danni White
November 02, 2024

Hola 👋🏼 Danni here.

This past Wednesday, I sat in my car outside the gym for 20 minutes, scrolling through my phone.

I had my workout clothes on. My water bottle was full. But it was difficult to open that car door and get moving.

After months of consistent training, I'd hit a wall. My progress had plateaued, and that voice in my head kept whispering, "What's the point?"

Sound familiar?

Maybe for you, it's not the gym. Perhaps it's that business you're trying to launch or that creative project that once lit you up but now feels like just another thing to do.

That moment in my car taught me something crucial about the nature of giving up – and why it's essential to recognize it as a signal to readjust rather than a stop sign.

Have you noticed that the urge to quit never comes when we are failing spectacularly?

  • It creeps in during those grey areas – when we're making progress, but it's slower than you expected.

  • When we’re improving, but not as dramatically as we’d hoped.

  • When we’re moving forward, but the finish line seems to keep moving, too.

This is exactly where I found myself, not just with my fitness goals, but with other meaningful projects I've ever pursued.

And here's what I've learned: this moment of doubt is actually a checkpoint, not a dead end.

Our brains are wired for efficiency and safety. When something feels hard, when progress slows, our internal warning system kicks in: "This is requiring too much energy. Let's conserve resources. Let's stick to what we know."

But here's the truth: this warning system, while well-intentioned, is calibrated for survival, not growth. It's designed to keep us safe, not to help us thrive.

Here are four things we can do instead:

The Five-Minute Promise

When everything in me wanted to quit, I made myself a deal: just thirty minutes. Not a whole workout, not a complete chapter—just thirty minutes. Almost always, those thirty minutes turned into forty, then fifty, and then an hour. Motion creates momentum.

The Progress Audit

I keep a "backwards journal" and have for over a decade. Instead of writing what I plan to do, I write what I've already accomplished in that day or week. Looking back at three months of entries shifted my entire perspective. Progress isn't linear, but it is inevitable if you keep showing up.

The Redefinition Game

I stopped asking, "Should I give up?" and started asking, "How can I make this more sustainable?" Sometimes, what feels like wanting to quit is actually a signal to adjust your approach.

The Connection Cure

Every time I felt like giving up, I reached out to someone pursuing similar goals—not for advice, just for presence. Knowing you're not alone in the struggle changes everything. I’ve had more coffee dates, and let’s grab lunch or go for happy hour this week than I have in this entire year. The difference is that I said YES to each one. The presence of others can shift your mentality in the moments when you need it.

The moment you feel like giving up is often the moment right before a breakthrough. It's like your last rep at the gym – the one that feels impossible is building the most strength.

But you won't know this unless you push through. Every time I've surrendered to the urge to quit, I've regretted it. Every time I've pushed through, I've discovered new capabilities I didn't know I had.

If you're questioning whether to continue with your creative project if the downloads aren't where you hoped they'd be or if the audience isn't growing as fast as you expected – pause. Take a deep breath.

This feeling isn't a stop sign; it's a checkpoint. It's your opportunity to reassess, adjust, and emerge stronger.

Right about now, you’re probably asking, “Girl did you ever get out that car and get to the gym?” LOL. I did. 5 days straight this week. Go me!

That’s it, that’s all!

Rooting for you!

Danni

P.S. I understand exactly where you are because I've been there – not just with my fitness journey, but with several creative endeavors. That's why I created "From 0 to 50K Downloads: A 10-Step Actionable Guide to Put Your Podcast on the Path to Explosive Growth." While the strategies in this guide focus on podcast growth, breaking through plateaus and building sustainable momentum apply to any creative journey. Access the e-book here. 

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