Quitting

Stick it out, never give up, quitters never win. These are all phrases we have heard that are somehow meant to motivate and keep us from giving something up. Quitting is equated to failure, something we all strive to avoid. Initially quitting may be a failure, but often times a failure leads to a greater success.

I once was a competitive powerlifter. I was reasonably successful, gaining size and strength. As time progressed injuries began to accumulate, however I have never been one to quit. I reasoned that I needed to get stronger, prevent the injuries. This strategy proved ineffective, and eventually quitting was the best option. Exercise remains a constant in my daily life, I just do it differently. There is no way to know if persistence would have led to greater injury, or even more success as a powerlifter, but the nagging injuries and fatigue have since subsided.

Giving something up is difficult and it is all too often considered failing. Relinquishing control of an aspect of your life and handing it over for something else to replace it seems like losing. This is a frequent topic of conversation in physical therapy. There are activities that must be sacrificed as we advance through time. The focus of attention can then shift to something else, something that may in fact give greater meaning and be more freeing than the sacrificed activity ever provided.

Quitting is one of the most useful actions we can take. This requires being aware of a strategy or behavior that is no longer serving you. It may be limiting potential and quitting can lead to more meaningful undertakings in the future. Just because you may not be able to do the things you once did, does not mean there aren’t better things on the horizon.

Austin Ulrich, Physical Therapist