About to Quit? Read This Before You Give Up

There is a very specific moment in every journey that no one warns you about.

It doesn’t look dramatic.

It doesn’t come with loud failure or obvious defeat.

It comes quietly.

You wake up tired. Not just physically—emotionally.

The excitement you once had feels distant.

The progress you hoped for hasn’t shown up yet.

And that small, dangerous thought appears:

“Maybe I should stop.”

I’ve had that thought during projects I deeply cared about. During habits I promised myself I would maintain. 

During phases where I was doing “everything right” and still seeing nothing move.

And here’s what I’ve learned the hard way:

 The moment you want to quit is very often the moment your growth is being tested.

Not punished.
Tested.

Because growth doesn’t ask for talent first.
It asks for endurance.

If you’re reading this because you want to feel calmer, less overwhelmed, or more like yourself again. 

I’ve created a free mini burnout guide to help you take a tiny first step. 

(Link in the Resources section below.)

Why Wanting to Quit Is a Normal Part of Growth

Let’s start by normalizing this.

If you’ve reached a point where you want to quit, it doesn’t mean you’re weak.

It means you’ve been trying.

It means you’ve been consistent.

It means you’ve stayed longer than your comfort zone wanted you to.

Your brain is designed to keep you safe, not successful.

So when things feel uncertain, slow, or uncomfortable, your mind searches for relief. 

Quitting feels like relief. Rest feels like relief. Going back to what’s familiar feels safe.

But safety and growth rarely exist in the same place.

Every meaningful change—healing, discipline, building something, becoming someone—comes with a phase where motivation drops before results appear.

That phase is uncomfortable.
That phase is quiet.
That phase makes you question everything.

And most people leave right there.

Don't quit

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The Invisible Progress Phase (Where Most People Quit)

There is a phase of growth where nothing looks like it’s working.

You’re showing up.
You’re learning.
You’re adjusting.
You’re trying again.

But externally?
Nothing changes.

This is what I call the invisible progress phase.

It’s when:

• Your habits are forming but not stable yet

• Your skills are improving but not sharp enough to show results

• Your mindset is shifting but not fully aligned

Sometimes success begins with the way we think, not the steps we take — I talked about this in 12 Life-Changing Mindset Shifts to Unlock Your Success.

It feels pointless.
It feels lonely.
It feels unfair.

But invisible progress is still progress.

Just like roots grow before flowers appear, internal change always happens before external results.

If you quit here, you don’t just stop effort.
You erase the progress you couldn’t see.

Why Quitting Feels So Tempting Right Before a Breakthrough

This part is uncomfortable to admit, but true.

The urge to quit often peaks right before things start to change.

Why?

Because:

• You’ve already invested a lot of energy

• You’re emotionally tired

• Your expectations are high

• Your patience is low

Growth often asks one final thing before it gives anything back.

Consistency without validation.

That’s hard.

But that’s also what separates people who move forward from those who stay stuck in the same cycle.

Quitting vs Pausing: Know the Difference

Not all stopping is bad.

Sometimes, what you need is:

• Rest

• Reflection

• A new strategy

• A slower pace

That’s not quitting.
That’s self-respect.

Quitting becomes harmful when it comes from:

• Fear of discomfort

• Impatience

• Comparison

• Self-doubt

If you’re tired of letting self-doubt win, don’t skip 8 Powerful Strategies to Crush Self-Doubt and Ignite Your Confidence — it’s time for your breakthrough moment.

Before quitting, ask yourself:

• Am I exhausted—or discouraged?

• Do I need rest—or reassurance?

• Do I want to stop—or do I want things to feel easier?

Often, the answer isn’t to quit.
It’s to continue more gently.

Practical Tips to Keep Going When You Want to Quit

Motivation alone won’t save you.
You need tools.

Here are practical tips that actually help during hard phases.

Tip 1: Shrink the Goal Until It Feels Bearable

When everything feels overwhelming, your goal is too big right now.

Instead of:

“I need to fix everything.”

“I must succeed soon.”

Try:

“What’s the smallest step I can take today?”

Small actions protect consistency.

Even five minutes counts when quitting is the alternative.

Tip 2: Stop Measuring Results Daily

Daily evaluation kills long-term goals.

If you constantly ask:

“Is this working yet?”

“Why am I not there?”

You drain your emotional energy.

Choose a timeline instead.

Commit to showing up for:

• 30 days

• 60 days

• 90 days

Sometimes all we need is a roadmap instead of motivation. If that resonates, read Dream Big, Achieve Bigger: Your Simple Guide to Goal-Setting 101.

Without constant judgment.

Progress needs space.

Tip 3: Borrow Belief When Yours Is Low

You don’t need confidence every day.

Borrow belief from:

• Past versions of you who survived hard times

• People who’ve walked this path before

• Words you wrote when you were hopeful

Belief doesn’t have to be loud.
It just has to exist.

Tip 4: Let Discomfort Be a Sign, Not a Warning

Discomfort doesn’t mean you’re failing.

It means you’re stretching.

Instead of thinking:

“This shouldn’t feel this hard.”

Try:

“This is uncomfortable because it matters.”

Growth without discomfort is usually just repetition.

Tip 5: Detach Your Worth From Outcomes

You are not your results.

You are not your speed.

You are not behind.

Measure success by:

• Effort

• Consistency

• Integrity

Outcomes will follow.

If you’re reading this because you’re trying to grow, be better of yourself, heal, or simply take care of yourself

I just want to remind you of something important: you don’t have to do it all alone. Consistency is hard when you’re overwhelmed, and motivation doesn’t magically appear when life feels heavy. 

That’s exactly why I created the 90-Day Self-Care Kit — a gentle step-by-step guide with small daily practices, emotional support prompts, and weekly reflections to help you reconnect with yourself again. 

It’s not about perfection — it’s about feeling lighter, calmer, and more supported one day at a time. 

If your heart is asking for guidance, you might love it.

💛 Explore the kit → 90-Day Self-Care Kit

ACTION SECTION: 

What to Do When You Feel Like Quitting (Step-by-Step)

Save this section. Come back to it on hard days.

Step 1: Pause Instead of Deciding

Never make quitting decisions while emotionally drained.

Pause.
Sleep.
Eat.
Rest.

Decide later.

Step 2: Write Down Why You Started

Not the “successful” reason.

The honest one.

What pain were you trying to escape?

What life were you trying to build?

Reconnect with that.

Step 3: Choose One Tiny Action

Not ten.
Not a full plan.

Just one.

• One page

• One task

• One message

• One step

Momentum begins small.

Step 4: Remind Yourself This Is Temporary

Feelings are temporary.
Resistance is temporary.

This phase will pass.

But quitting can last much longer than discomfort.

Step 5: Affirm, Then Act

Say it. Then do something small.

Affirmations:

• “I don’t need motivation to continue.”

• “This phase is building something I can’t see yet.”

• “I can rest without quitting.”

• “I am allowed to move slowly.”

• “Staying is enough today.”

What If You Keep Going and It Still Doesn’t Work?

This fear is real.

But even then, you gain:

• Strength

• Self-trust

• Skills

Growth doesn’t happen overnight — it starts with one brave step. I talked about this in Transform Your Life: Learn a New Skill Today!.

• Clarity

• Experience

• Trying and failing builds you.

Quitting early builds regret.

And regret is heavier.

Final Words: Keep Going, Gently

You don’t need to push harder.

You don’t need to prove anything.

You just need to stay.

Stay one more day.
Try one more time.
Take one small step.

Because the moment you want to quit is often not a signal to stop.

It’s a sign that something important is forming.

And you deserve to see what happens if you don’t give up on yourself.

If this post helped you, you might also like the 14-Day Self-Care Starter Kit —

 a gentle 2-week reset perfect for tired minds. 

It’s a low-commitment way to try guided healing. 

Learn more here → 14-Day Self-Care Starter Kit

If you’ve been trying to feel normal again but life still feels heavy, you don’t need to do it alone.

I created this free burnout guide so you can finally breathe again and feel like yourself — even if progress has been slow.

✨Download Your Free Burnout Reset Guide 

Before you walk away… pause here.
Tell me in the comments — what are you struggling with right now?

You’re not alone, and sometimes sharing is the first step to staying.

If this post gave you even a little strength to keep going,
subscribe for weekly encouragement, mindset support, and gentle motivation for hard days.