Scott and SadieHappy Quitter’s Day! The second Friday in January is when people are most likely to throw in the towel on their New Year’s resolutions. But here are three times when it might actually MAKE SENSE to give up on your goal . . . or at least reassess it.
1. When you’re motivated by the wrong reasons. Sometimes, we pursue a goal just to prove other people wrong or soothe our own fear of failure. But when a goal doesn’t align with your core values and needs, it’s hard to stay motivated.
2. When your goal no longer resonates with you. Maybe climbing the corporate ladder was important to you in your 20s and 30s, but then in your 40s you found that spending more time with your family is what really matters.
In that case, “scoring a promotion at work” wouldn’t necessarily be a great goal to pursue, even if it does have its benefits.
3. If reaching for your goal has exhausted your resources. Our capacity for sustained effort isn’t infinite . . . and pursuing our goals CAN lead to burnout. By learning to let go of resolutions that feel exhausting or impossible, you free up space to set more realistic and achievable goals.
How are your New Year’s resolutions holding up? Have you stuck with them, or are they already on the chopping block? Share your resolution status in the comments—we’re rooting for you either way!
(Forbes)
