You Need to Quit Before it Gets Worse

Nolan Clarke
3 min readDec 25, 2023

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There’s a peculiar comfort in the familiar, even when it’s harmful. We cling to habits and patterns, shackled not by physical constraints, but by the intangible chains of routine and fear. We’re often told that quitting is a sign of weakness, a surrender to adversity. But what if I told you that sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is to quit? Yes, quit — not in defeat, but as an act of profound courage and self-care.

It’s a chilly winter evening, and I find myself wandering through the labyrinth of my thoughts, pondering over the essence of quitting. The word itself feels heavy, often laden with negative connotations. Yet, as I delve deeper into the layers of its meaning, I uncover a liberating truth. Quitting is not just about giving up; it’s about making a conscious choice to leave behind what no longer serves us, to embrace change, and to grow.

Let me share a personal story. There was a time in my life where I was deeply entrenched in the quicksand of a harmful habit. It began innocuously, a mere blip in the radar of my existence. But as days turned into weeks and weeks into months, this habit morphed into a monstrous entity, consuming my time, energy, and health. I was caught in a vicious cycle, knowing well the damage it was inflicting, yet feeling powerless to break free.

The epiphany came on a seemingly ordinary day. I was sitting by the window, watching the leaves fall in a graceful dance of surrender to the ground. It struck me then — there’s beauty and strength in letting go. The trees were not weaker for shedding their leaves; they were preparing for renewal. In that moment, I realized that my unwillingness to quit was not a testament to my strength, but a reflection of my fear.

Quitting that habit didn’t happen overnight. It was a journey marked by setbacks and triumphs. But the act of deciding to quit was transformative. It was a declaration that I valued myself enough to walk away from what harmed me. It was a recognition that while change is uncomfortable, stagnation is lethal.

Think about your life for a moment. Are there habits, relationships, or mindsets that are holding you back? Are you clinging to them because you fear the unknown, or because you’ve convinced yourself that perseverance is synonymous with enduring the harmful?

Quitting is an art. It’s about discerning what to hold onto and what to release. It’s an understanding that our journey through life is not just about the endurance of pain but about the pursuit of wellbeing. It’s the wisdom to know that sometimes, things get worse not because we failed to hold on, but because we failed to let go.

As you stand at the crossroads of decision, remember this: quitting is not a whisper of defeat, but a roar of empowerment. It’s a courageous step towards self-liberation, a dance with change. It’s an acknowledgment that you are worthy of a life unburdened by the chains of destructive habits.

So, dare to quit. Let go of what diminishes you, and embrace the transformative journey of renewal. Remember, in the art of quitting, lies the seed of a new beginning.

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Nolan Clarke
Nolan Clarke

Written by Nolan Clarke

Hi, I'm Nolan Clarke! I'm passionate about life's nuances, and I explore societal, tech, and mental intricacies through my writing.

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