When Giving Up Can Get You What You Really Want

Today, I have deemed myself the Super Starter.  This is the 5th post idea I've started... in the last hour.If you're a writer, you know how frustrating it is to start a post you think might be going somewhere, and to get hit with that "Wuh?" feeling a few paragraphs in.Today, I've been trying something new: every time I hit this lull in creativity, I leave that draft and start a new one....and I'm finding out that if I continue down this road, I will never complete a post again.Sometimes I have a hard time bridging thoughts to new ones in word format.  I need to go back and re-read what I've already written in order to make sense of what I'm trying to say and ensure that I'm staying on topic.  This interrupts my flow of creativity and sometimes stuns me into deactivation, blank staring and twitter-checking.Every time this happens, I've been able to push through it, even though sometimes it feels like stumbling around in the dark.Sound familiar?  Hint: this doesn't just apply to writers...

When you hit a confusing, frustrating, or disappointing stage in your life, do you push through, or do you give up and move on?

I'm not saying that one way is better than the other.  In fact, I believe either path can work in certain situations.What I don't want to happen is:

a) you "push through" a forced route that is not working because it is not meant to

b) give up every time the going gets tough.

So how do we find that balance, and in which instances would you choose either road?

Everybody experiences dips in motivation, inspiration, creativity, excitement, passion, and every other fiery emotion out there, even if the road you're on is something you're passionate about.If we were deeply passionate and excited all the time, we'd be exhausted!I like to think I have a strong loyalty to the truth, and when I force it, I feel like I'm making things up.I know a lot of you other creative-types out there feel wrong or fake when you're just going through the motions without feeling that fire inside, too, but you have to know that it's ok to feel this way sometimes.  There will be times when you just need to push through to rediscover that inspiration.

At What Point Should You Stop Pushing Through And Move On?

When life seems to continuously smack you in the face, it's hard to get up and keep going.Encountering rejection and resistance, hitting plateaus in growth, and inability to break through to success are all normal occurrences when you're trying to change your life and achieve great things.It takes a certain amount of gumption to keep pushing through these demoralizing setbacks.When to give up depends on how much you're willing to deal with, and how much your goal really means to you.I bring up my ex-"dream" of being an actress a lot on this blog, but I believe giving up that goal was the most important lesson in my life when it came to knowing the difference between my own stubbornness, and listening to my heart.I didn't want to do it anymore: I hated auditioning, I loathed the Hollywood lifestyle, paparazzi make me sick, and I felt exhausted and depressed every day.But, I forced myself down that road for way too long because I'm a person that always finishes what she starts, whether or not I'm happy.In many cases, this stubbornness has gotten me farther in life, but it's also kept me back from happiness and other opportunities.Know that:

a) You're more than likely going to have to put a ton of work in if you're looking to achieve major changes in your life.

b) The challenges you will face on the way to your goal help develop you into the new person you are looking to become.

b) You are not chained to this particular goal- this goal does not define you.  You define your goals.

Check in with yourself every so often and ask, "Is all this pain and suffering worth the end result?"Also, try incorporating this exercise every two months to make sure the goal you're going after is really what you want, not just what you're telling yourself you want (inspired by the worksheet by Paul Myers- who goes deeper in depth than I do here- found via Chris Guillebeau):

Envision yourself after having achieved what you're setting out to do.  Really put yourself in that situation.  Closing your eyes is recommended, so if you're at work or at a coffee shop right now, you might want to save this exercise for when you get home... or you might not.  I'm not gonna tell you what to do.

How do you feel?  Not, how do others feel about you, but how do you feel in this new life?

Look around you- do you have support, love, and happiness in your life?  Do you want those things?

Are you content with what you have accomplished, or are you still lacking something inside?  What is that feeling that you still want to have?  What goal would you have to set to achieve that feeling?

This can be a highly effective exercise if you take it seriously and jot down some notes from your experience.  Going through these notes can help you hone your current goals, or see them without the veil of stubbornness.If this goal isn't going to make you happy, why are you doing it?  Because everyone else says you should want to?  Because you would be "successful" or more "attractive?"  To whom?  If you answered that last question with anything but "myself," then I would recommend you ditch that goal, or tweak it so that it would make YOU happy.

What's the point of living your life for someone else if you're going to be unhappy?  You're the only one that has to live with that unhappiness.

Why You Shouldn't Give Up: Tips For Re-igniting Your Motivation

-You deserve every happiness, just like everyone else on this earth.-Just because it's hard, doesn't mean it's not worth it.-View each setback as a challenge to learn from.  I guarantee that if you work through it, you will learn something new from the experience.-The world eagerly awaits whatever you are striving to give it.  Add your value to the world.-The greatest changes in history happened after revolutions.  Revolutionize your life.-There's nothing fun or exciting about complacency.-Do you want to be the way you are right now for the rest of your life?-Think about your children and your loved ones- excitement is contagious.  Working toward a goal that you're passionate about can inspire them to do the same!Are you going through a give-up-or-push-through time in your life right now?  If you have any other questions, please comment below- I'll help however I can.  If you've been through what I've been talking about, leave your tips in the comments to help those that are struggling!

My goal is to make this a community that helps, inspires, and motivates one another.  All I need is your involvement!

Thanks for reading, and I hope it helps you all!