Have you ever felt like giving up? I have. There have been times in my life, I’ve felt like giving up on so many things such as exercising, losing weight, jobs, and even my marriage. And that’s just four things I’ve personally struggled with over the decades. I’ve come to realize when we get to the point of wanting to give up, many times indifference sets in. That’s when it’s time to own up to our own contribution to our circumstances and address the issue that’s causing this willingness to give up. I have a solution I’ve implemented in my own life that’s helped me overcome apathy, reinvest, and persevere.
Here’s how I’ve kept myself from giving up: I remember my why.
I remember why I’m working out. I want to stay healthy. I remember why I started losing weight. I want to fit in my pants again when winter returns. I remember my employment helps pay bills, puts food on my table, and gas in my car. I remember I made a HUGE promise to both God and my husband.
In some of my most frustrating and challenging moments where all I wanted to do was give up, I stopped for a bit, sat with myself and God, and together we remembered why. I seriously ask myself a series of questions and force myself to look within my heart and soul. Because the inner Michelle is what indifference has infected.
- Why do I feel the way I do?
- What’s really going on?
- Dig deep, Michelle. Get down to the core of your indifference.
- How are you going to care again?
- Remember your why. Is it still your why?
Friends, these are tough questions, but we have to be tough on ourselves from time to time. Remembering our why helps us reinvest and persevere.
Sure sometimes our answers are tough to implement, but it’s worth it. Being honest with ourselves is crucial. It’s crucial for our perseverance. We get to pay the costs if we give up. Probably others will have a cost to pay, too, if we give up.
Reinvesting in our why helps us persevere.
Don’t give up on yourself. Please. Don’t give up on your why. You are here in this world for a purpose. I truly believe that if you give up the rest of us will lose out.
So, today, if you feel like giving up on something, stop. Sit with yourself. Invite God to join this conversation. Ask yourself the questions above and answer truthfully. Then act on a newfound determination. Persevere through indifference.
Your why matters. Don’t give up. Find your why again and you will find hope to persevere.
Scripture
We know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. ~ Romans 5:3-5
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