Have you ever heard the phrase “Be quiet and do it”? If so, do you feel the connection between giving up and failure?
Giving up is not always a sign of weakness. Sometimes, it is a profound act of courage, lucidity, and respect for ourselves.
Healthy giving up does not mean abandonment, but a conscious choice:
– when something costs us more than it gives us
– when we have changed, but the goal has remained the same
– when the body says “no.”
Chronic exhaustion, lack of motivation, constant tension, or a feeling of inner emptiness are important messages. Our body is often more honest than our mind. Ignoring these signals does not make us stronger, but more disconnected from ourselves.
Giving up does not mean that we have not done enough, but rather says “I have done everything I could. Now I choose something else.”
Contrary to what I wrote above, for me, the most powerful lesson about (not) giving up came on the Camino – the day when it rained very hard, and I wanted to give up the route. I could not find any alternative transportation, I said “that’s it… I have to keep walking” and, at that moment, the sun came out for about half an hour.
I’ll end with a question I heard from one of my trainers: “Where do you feel the need to make space right now?”