3 Things You Must Know About Quitting (From Someone Who Wanted To So Many Times)
Seriously. The desire to quit doesn’t make you weak—it makes you human. That overwhelming pressure you feel? That mental spiral where you question why you started something in the first place? Welcome to the action crisis.
What most people don’t realize is how quickly this doubt can morph into a tangled story of shame, fear, and self-judgment. You start thinking, “Maybe I made it all up. Maybe I can’t do this.” That internal chatter isn’t telling the full truth. It’s just loud.
Coaching offers a judgment-free space to pull those thoughts apart. As one of my clients told me, “I think I gaslight my own drama because I don’t have time.” Coaching helps you make time—to get quiet, get curious, and move from confusion to clarity.
1. Everyone Wants to Quit at Some Point - Even High Performers
Seriously. The desire to quit doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human. That overwhelming pressure you feel? That mental spiral where you question why you started something in the first place? Welcome to the action crisis.
What most people don’t realize is how quickly this doubt can morph into a tangled story of shame, fear, and self-judgment. You start thinking, “Maybe I made it all up. Maybe I can’t do this.” That internal chatter isn’t telling the full truth. It’s just loud.
✨ Try this: Take 5 minutes today to write down the loudest thought in your head, and then ask yourself, “Is this actually true, or just the loudest voice?”
2. People Often Quit the Wrong Things
Here’s a wild contradiction I see all the time: people quit too early on the things that would help them grow, and they stay too long in the things that hurt them.
They grind themselves into burnout, staying in toxic work or personal dynamics because it’s “not the right time” to leave. Then, when it comes to investing in something new (like coaching, self-care, or creating healthy habits), they delay until the perfect moment arrives. Spoiler: it never does.
And why do they stay stuck? Because society tells us to keep grinding. Because we don’t talk about our thoughts and emotions. Because we think we’re alone. Because quitting has been painted as weakness instead of wisdom.
🌱 Reflect on this: What’s one thing you’re holding onto that no longer serves you? What would it feel like to release it?
3. The Real Power Is in Choosing
I love this one. Because quitting isn’t always giving up. Sometimes it’s choosing to stop with intention.
Giving up looks like defeat. Like the inner critic won. It’s reactive and full of judgment. Choosing to stop, though? That’s a power move. It’s rooted in clarity. It’s your decision, not something pushed on you by burnout, fear, or outside pressure.
And sometimes the power is in choosing to keep going.
🔥 Ask yourself: If I stop now, will I be proud of that decision in a year? Or will I wish I had seen it through just a little longer?
How Coaching Helps You Navigate Quitting
This is where coaching steps in. A coach can help you see what you’re too close to. They notice patterns you don’t. They’re not hearing the same internal loop on repeat like you are.
Through coaching, you:
- Uncover when your doubts are protecting you vs. holding you back
- See what’s really draining your energy—and whether it’s time to stay or go
- Create space for clarity, so your choice is intentional, not reactive
Here are a few questions I often ask:
- What is your definition of “quitting”?
- What changes if you do or don’t quit?
- When is quitting good for someone?
- When is it bad?
These questions help shift the narrative from chaos to curiosity and allow you to view your narrative from a different angle.
The Bottom Line
For me, choosing not to quit during the sale of my vacation rental business was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but also one of the most rewarding. If I had walked away from the closing, I would have let myself down. I would’ve stayed in a cycle of unhappiness just to appease others, and who knows what that would’ve cost me in terms of my physical health, mental well-being, or my relationships.
Sticking with the process, even when it was uncomfortable, gave me the closure I needed, the peace I deserved, and the freedom to start something new with intention. Today, I coach others through similar crossroads – not because I have all the answers, but because I’ve lived through the questions. And, I know what’s possible on the other side.
The decision to quit something, or not, is never easy. But it doesn’t have to be shame-filled. You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through burnout, nor do you need to ghost your goals when they get uncomfortable.
Whether you’re staring down a big decision in business, life, or leadership, ask yourself:
Am I giving up… or am I choosing to stop?
That one question could change everything and help you discover freedom.
P.S. I fell upon this article which is a great read: The Desire to Quit is Normal. Here’s What We Do About It.
Coach B
