The Impact of Habits

Certain habits may be more beneficial to relinquish. For example, the health risks associated with smoking are well-documented. If you are concerned about your well-being and desire a healthier life for yourself and your loved ones, quitting smoking could be seen as a positive action. In this context, choosing to give up smoking is not a sign of weakness, but rather an act of bravery. It reflects the strength to forgo a pleasure for the sake of your long-term health.

The takeaway is that the act of giving up is not inherently negative; it hinges on the context and motivation behind the decision. Some pursuits may not fit with your lifestyle or may not be worth the accompanying struggles.

Evaluating Your Goals

A more complex discussion arises when it comes to abandoning personal goals. Establishing long-term, mid-term, and short-term objectives is vital, and these should be documented and reassessed regularly. Imagine you set a goal to pursue a pharmacy degree right after high school, envisioning a future as a skilled pharmacist. However, after two years, you find the career path unsatisfying. Should you abandon it?

There is value in perseverance, especially since our emotions can fluctuate significantly, particularly in youth. Taking a moment to reflect before making drastic changes is wise. Yet, if a career path feels unfulfilling, it may be prudent to reconsider and pursue a different direction. Just as with quitting smoking, this can also represent a courageous choice.

In the video Simon Sinek: Should You Ever Give Up On Someone?, Sinek discusses the importance of evaluating relationships and whether they serve our well-being.

Exploring New Paths

Consider another scenario: you still aspire to be a pharmacist but realize that your current path is not the best route. It’s akin to climbing a mountain and discovering a more efficient trail halfway up. The destination remains the same, but the journey is adjusted. This can also be viewed as a form of quitting—abandoning a specific method while still pursuing the ultimate goal.

Should You Ever Give Up on Certain Principles?

At this juncture, it’s essential to understand that giving up is not universally good or bad. It could be detrimental if it stems from a lack of perseverance, or beneficial if it leads to personal growth. However, are there principles you should hold onto relentlessly?

A lyric that resonates with me states:

“I want to set fear on fire and give dreaming a fair shot

And never give up whether anybody cares or not.”

— John Moreland, Gospel

This lyric inspires thoughts about persistence in virtue rather than letting go of detrimental habits or relationships. Stoicism, a philosophy that emphasizes virtue and moral integrity, has endured through the ages for its profound insights into achieving happiness. Ultimately, it encourages us to act rightly, not only for ourselves but for the greater good.

In the face of adversity, some may succumb to nihilism, losing hope and seeing no purpose in life. This mindset is perilous, as it breeds a lack of motivation to pursue goodness. Embracing nihilism reflects a surrendering of hope and a dismissal of virtue as a worthy aspiration, which is counter to Stoic beliefs.

Final Thoughts

Should you relinquish a habit or abandon a goal? The answer is contingent on the circumstances and motivations involved. However, do not give up on belief in virtue or the notion that life holds meaning. Those are principles worth fighting for.

Thank you for reading! If you wish to delve deeper into these reflections, tune into The Strong Stoic Podcast, available on your favorite platforms.

In the video Is It Ever Okay to Give Up?, different perspectives on the appropriateness of quitting are explored, providing further insights into this complex topic.