When You Feel Like Quitting Think About Why You Started

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“When you feel like quitting think about why you started.”

Winners don’t quit, but it doesn’t mean that it has never crossed their mind. Everyone has the option of throwing in the towel, and sometimes it’s even the right thing to do. However, most of the time, people simply quit for want of an easier road even if they know they’d be a lot happier in the long run if they persevere.

In 1965, psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven F. Maier accidentally discovered an interesting concept associated with quitting and depression, “learned helplessness.” Using dogs in their experiment, they found that when an animal is repeatedly subjected to an inescapable aversive stimulus, it will eventually stop trying to avoid the stimulus even in circumstances where an escape is presented.

Although strongly tied to animal psychology, this concept also applies to human behaviour. Most often than not, tight situations presents opportunities for relief or change, yet people who think themselves as utterly helpless tend to overlook the solutions. They are more likely to surrender their dreams or happiness, which would make them prone to depression.

One of the best ways to renew one’s passion and motivation is to go back where it all started. Remembering the reasons why you chose to embark a particular journey brings you back to your goals and reminds you of what you’re made of. Sometimes the present and the imagined problems are overwhelming enough to make you forget why you want something in the first place. Once you’ve rediscovered your goals, it’s easier to topple obstacles.