Why Most People Quit - and How to Make Sure You Don’t
Why Most People Quit (And How to Make Sure You Don’t)
Pain isn’t just physical—it’s frustration, doubt, exhaustion. It’s the crushing weight of feeling like your effort isn’t enough. But pain isn’t a stop sign. It’s a signal. A signal that you’re exactly where you need to be.
Most people misinterpret struggle as a reason to back off, but what if I told you it’s the exact opposite? Discomfort—whether in your body, your mind, or your emotions—isn’t proof that you should stop. It’s proof that you’re growing, that you’re pushing toward something bigger. Pain isn’t just growth—it’s motivation. It’s the reminder that you’re in the arena, doing the work, getting stronger with every step forward.
The Psychology of Quitting
Why do people give up? It’s almost never because they physically can’t go on. It’s because their mind tells them they can’t. When things get tough, self-doubt creeps in, fear takes over, and comfort starts looking way better than discomfort. But what if I told you that the moment you feel like quitting is the moment you’re only scratching the surface of your true capacity?
And quitting isn’t always physical. Sometimes, it’s the slow erosion of belief in yourself. Maybe the growth isn’t happening as fast as you expected. Maybe the hard work isn’t yielding instant results. That’s when your mind starts whispering that you’re not good enough, that your effort isn’t paying off, that you should stop. That’s when you lean in. Every time doubt creeps in, recognize it as a signal—not to quit, but to push forward. That struggle is proof that you’re on the verge of transformation.
Lessons from Ultra-Running: Pushing Past Your Limits
In endurance sports, there’s a well-known truth—when your body tells you it’s done, you still have more to give. I’ve lived this firsthand. I’ve been deep in the pain cave, convinced I had nothing left, only to dig deeper and find another gear. The same applies to anything in life. Your brain has been habitualized to protect you from discomfort—but just as it learned to avoid pain, it can be trained to embrace it. The more you lean into discomfort, the more natural it becomes. Over time, struggle isn’t something to fear; it’s something that signals progress.
Every time I push myself through a brutal tempo run or an interval session, I embrace the pain, because I know this is what it takes. I can almost feel myself getting better in real-time. It’s the same with work, business, and any pursuit. When progress slows and frustration kicks in, that’s not a signal to stop—it’s a sign to double down. That struggle is your mind’s way of telling you this is what breakthrough looks like. Growth happens when you lean into the struggle.
How to Push Past the Quit Point
Here’s how to keep going when every part of you wants to stop:
Breathe and Ground Yourself: The first step is always to pause, take a deep breath, and clear your head. This resets your nervous system and gives you control over your next move.
Reframe the Struggle: Instead of seeing obstacles as signs to quit, see them as proof you’re making progress. Growth is never easy.
Focus on the Next Checkpoint: In endurance sports, we go aid station to aid station, treating each one like a mini finish line. If there’s an aid station every six miles, that’s all I have to do—give it my all until the next one, then reset. In life, progress works the same way. Break the big picture down into short-term milestones and give everything you have to each one.
Compartmentalize Your Effort: In work, I review my tasks each morning and prioritize the top three. When I’m working on one, that is my only focus. It’s compartmentalized. One segment at a time. This keeps overwhelm at bay and ensures steady progress.
Have a ‘Why’ That’s Bigger Than the Pain: The reason you started must be stronger than the reasons to quit. Dig into it. This must be solidified prior to your struggle. It takes time and effort. So, schedule time for self-reflection and define your purpose.
Train Your Mind: Your body follows your mind. Resilience isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build. Start by challenging small discomforts daily. Push yourself a little further each time, and over time, your threshold for struggle increases. The more you expose yourself to controlled adversity, the stronger your ability to endure becomes. When it matters most, quitting won’t even be on the table.
Embrace the Pain: When exhaustion, doubt, and frustration hit, don’t resist—indulge it. Recognize that discomfort as the process of transformation. Rewire your thinking to see those moments as proof you’re getting better.
The Habit of Resilience
Reframing your mindset to embrace discomfort isn’t just a one-time strategy—it becomes a habit. Over time, this response becomes second nature. Instead of reacting to struggle with hesitation or avoidance, you instinctively lean in. Every time you impose this mindset on yourself, you reinforce the ability to push past limitations. What feels unnatural at first soon becomes your default.
The Bottom Line
The difference between the people who succeed and the people who don’t isn’t talent—it’s the willingness to push through when things get tough. You’re stronger than you think. Reframe the struggle, lean into the discomfort, and keep going.
