In my years babysitting, one thing I noticed was the power of curiosity and boundless energy children seem to have. When children wake up, they almost immediately begin thinking of new things to explore, starting their days bubbling with seemingly-endless bounds of energy.
I’ll give a little illustration.
Have you ever watched a baby struggle to stand or walk? They do not give up despite the number of times they fall flat on their behinds. And if you place obstacles in their path, they find ways to go around them to do what they want to do anyway.
How is it then that we as adults seem to have lost our zeal to keep pushing?
I’ve asked myself this very question more than a few times. And I’ve come to understand that there is no perfect answer to this.
As we grow older, things change, responsibilities increase, and our optimism gives way to the grim feeling of realism.
We may want something so bad, work hard and pray ourselves to sleep on some nights, but then it doesn’t come to be. After repeated disappointments, the easiest option seems like giving up.
Your feelings are valid. I mean, the world would understand why you had to if they knew your story. Even the most motivated persons get the urge to, during tough times. But these times won’t last forever.
I think you should stay fixated on the outcome you want rather than the journey. Just like babies do. Because the journey would not be devoid of pain, but the outcome could supply the fuel you need to hold on a little bit longer.
With the outcome in mind, be open to trying different approaches. Oftentimes, we are stuck on the mindset that Route A and B are the only ways to achieve our goals.
There may be a dozen other methods that our minds do not consider because we are prone to judge ourselves harshly and believe we have failed in life.
Simply because Option A and B did not work.
The sad reality about giving up is that you would be stuck in the “what-if” cycle, wondering how different your life may have turned out if you hadn’t given up or if you quit right before the success that could have transformed your life. And the regrets suck the joy out of everything positive that comes your way.
I hope we imbibe the never-give-up attitude of babies learning to walk and remember to keep going when the going gets tough. I hope we remember to be kind to ourselves when we experience failures.
Finally, I hope we never have cause for regrets because we gave up on our dreams. Great things never come easy, and I am sending you strength to come out winning on the other side.
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Love,
Diane.
