3 Reasons To NOT Give Up
- Daniel Cuesta
- Feb 19
- 3 min read
Infused in my writings are the underlying principles of “slow and steady,” “never give up,” and “just keep swimming.”
I have subscribed to these with an almost religious fervor and cling to them as reminders that “eventually” it will be ok, even if it doesn't seem that way right now.
Sometimes, I take the hindsight perspective in my writing to look back and realize that a letter written to Dear Younger Me would be filled with so many beautiful stories, moments of valor, and shared crying experiences that I wouldn't trade back for anything regardless of how in this present moment I may view my circumstances.
You would be surprised if you take a moment to look at your own life and realize just how far you have come. The small victories, one after the other. The “try again’s” and the “get back up’s.” A personal portfolio that acts as a testament to who you are at your best when you need the reminder at your worst.
This isn't a motive to pat yourself on the back, not a time to parade around in a self-aggrandizing or patronizing way. No. It's a reminder that we all have more regrets from NOT listening to that little voice inside our heads telling us to “go” than from acting upon its advice.
Better put, there are MORE memories of gratitude associated with heeding our inner voice than of regrets for following it. It tends to be that we are remorseful for not having listened to it.
Some call it your “gut feeling”; my mother calls it the “God feeling.”
The point is that something profound inside us whispers and pulls us toward who we are meant to be; we’re just so caught up in convolution that we excuse ourselves from purpose and cower in the face of potential.
It’s three simple words that stop us: “I don’t know.”
Turns out no one does. It often comes back to a few ideas we must remember to reassure ourselves that “everything will be ok.”
Because at the end of the day. It will be.
1) No One Cares.
We all think we are the center of attention, the main character, the anchor being, but really, we are just suffering from what Social psychologists have coined as the spotlight effect:
The overwhelming tendency to think people are paying more attention to us than they really are. Everyone else suffers from this.
They are too busy thinking everyone is thinking about them to be thinking about you.
Better put, everyone is too focused on their own lives to spend significant time thinking about yours. Which means they’re not judging you as often as you think.
Get your own bias out of the way.
Realize that while those rooting for you might not always be clear, there is also no one preying on your downfall or praying for your end.
2) Might As Well.
Now, if this is the case, which it is, and it's you against you, then the next point to remember is that you have nothing to lose, so you might as well.
If the world continues to spin, no matter our indignation toward it, then the best thing for me to do is have fun while we turn and turn on this merry-go-round.
This means starting the creative project, learning a new skill you might not be perfect at, or taking a risk you’ve been contemplating for some time.
It’s a free version of living, and you have nothing to lose.
3) What Else Would There Be To Do?
Let's say you don’t take the step of faith, shoot your shot, or ask the question.
What then?
You go back to your typical life with typical results and subpar satisfaction.
So many of us are die-hard defendants for lives we would die to stop defending.Yet, we feel cornered and pressured to take the hits with a smile and nod while NOT taking the “might as well” chances. We struggle to realize that there really is no better option.
Either we suck it up and march on (this means we don’t complain, either), or we risk it all and hedge our bets.
What else is there to do?
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Don’t give up.
You will thank yourself tomorrow.
- Making The Most Of Being Curious
Daniel J. Cuesta
Sources:
The Spotlight Effect and Social Anxiety:
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