Walking-Away

What is this headline?  Did somebody kidnap the Resilient Worker and ghost write this article?  Quitting and walking away instead of hunkering down and moving forward with resilience? Blasphemy!

But let’s get real for a moment.  There are so many times when we need to dig deep, stay positive, stay resilient and keep moving forward.  Life is not designed for the weak and our greatest accomplishments are often borne from struggle and perseverance.  If we are able to break through the down moments without giving up, we can glean an even greater appreciation for our accomplishments.  It is this adversity that forms our character and gives us the strength to treasure our life and pass on our hard fought lessons to the next generation.  But everyone has a breaking point.  How do we decide when enough is enough?

In our work life, we need to perform overwhelming tasks and power through difficult moments of doubt and uncertainty.  A strategic merger which leaves you with overlapping job responsibilities.  A new boss who does not value your expertise.  The loss of a major client or sale.  A massive dip in the stock.  All of these can knock you back on your heels and cause a loss of confidence and conviction.  Your ability to bounce back is driven by your inner fortitude and resiliency.  Most of the time, you will be a Phoenix rising from the ashes!  But there are difficult moments that transcend resiliency.  What happens when you are asked to do something that conflicts with your beliefs or morals?  What happens when your misery at work bleeds into your family and personal life?  What happens when your health starts to suffer from the stress and anxiety brought on in the workplace?  As important as it to persevere, it is even more important to take care of your health, take care of your family and stay true to your moral compass.  Sometimes, you have to say enough is enough and walk away!

In our personal life, it is even more important to stay resilient.  We may get cut from a sports team, suffer a setback in a relationship, experience a financial hardship, or feel out of place in our school or social life.  Once again, a positive attitude and the conviction that you are not alone can fuel your resiliency in these difficult moments.  You must fight through the urge to give up and tap into your inner strength and positive attitude.  You are too strong to stay down forever!  But what happens when we do everything we can to impress a coach, and he still does not take notice?  What happens when we work as hard as possible, but the bills keep on coming?  What happens when we keep trying to branch out and make connections, but our isolation only gets more prominent?  There are times when we need to take a deep breath and pause before continuing down the same, tired  path.  A change of scenery may be necessary so you can stay resilient for another day!

Sometimes, it is okay to walk away from a job.  Sometimes, it is okay to walk away from a relationship.  Sometimes it is okay to walk away from your current social scene.  Sometimes, it is okay to downsize your life until the storm passes.  Nobody ever said life was supposed to be easy.  But it isn’t supposed to be an endless grind!  You are far too valuable to spend your life in desperation.  There are people in your life who need you.   Do not allow your health to suffer.  Do not allow yourself to become sad, bitter or self-focused.  Do not allow yourself to wallow in pity.  When a situation turns unhealthy or unbearable, you must understand that you have options.  And sometimes the best option is to quit embracing the madness and simply move on.

When it’s time for me to walk away from something, I walk away from it. My mind, my body, my conscience tell me that enough is enough. –Jerry West

But what is that breaking point?  The reality is that the threshold is different for every person.  But it is always well beyond your initial feeling of discomfort.  If we give up too easily, we will never be able to sharpen our character and appreciate our accomplishments.  If we give up too easily, we will never be able to experience the unbridled joy that stems from staring down our demons.  If we give up too easily, we will never know the power of resilience.  But there is a fine line between resiliency and insanity.  It is not a badge of honor to be a glutton for punishment.  Sometimes, you have to decide that enough is enough.  Sometimes it takes more courage to walk away from a dysfunctional situation than to keep moving forward.  And if you decide to walk away, put a smile on your face, move forward with confidence, and never look back with regret.

Until next week, keep smiling!