When you feel like giving up...

I wanted to share a simple message today about keeping going when things feel difficult, or when you want to quit. ​

 
​Because if you're working on something remotely important, at some point, fear or doubt will kick in... or it all gets too much and you start thinking: 

"Maybe this just isn't for me?"

Well, I'm here to tell you that maybe it is.

And maybe you shouldn't give up, just yet.

So here we go. Let's dive right in:

Keep going… even when you’ve been working on your “thing” for ages.

It doesn’t matter if it takes two years or ten — what matters is that you’re working on it.

Keep going… even if you don’t feel like you’re making progress.

Sometimes there’s stuff going on inside you don’t know about.

Important stuff.

And stuff outside, too...

I once wrote a blog post I thought was crap… I nearly deleted it on many occasions.

One day I got a message from a reader thanking me for the post and saying it had changed their life. It helped them get started on a long-term goal they had been putting off for 20 years.

Upshot: you never know what is happening under the surface, or what is waiting for you round the corner.

Keep going… even though you’re not sure what to do next.

Keep putting on foot in front of the other, and trust that the next step will become apparent when it needs to.

You won’t always know what to do next.

That’s okay.

Most people are making it up as they go along.

I promise!

Keep going… even if you’re not going as fast as the people around you.

It’s not a race or a competition.

The only competition you need to be in is with your past self.

Think tortoise and hare.

Some will zoom.

Some will putter.

We all get there in the end.

Keep going… even if no one else believes in you.

How do they know what you’re truly capable of?

In the words of William Arthur Ward:

“If you can dream it, you can achieve it.”

So start dreaming, creative one!

Keep going, even if there are hundreds (or thousands) of people already doing your thing.

Someone — somewhere — needs your message, exactly the way you tell it.

Keep going… even through the rough days.

We all have rough days.

Don’t let them put you off.

Take a break if you need to, and then get back to it.

Keep going… with a smile on your face.

Might as well enjoy the ride, hey?

Keep going… despite the failures and the doubts.

They are (unfortunately) part of the course… and everyone experiences them.

Failure and doubt don’t automatically mean you’re on the wrong path.

Sometimes they crop up for the things that are really important to us.

Keep going… even if your idea seems stupid or ridiculous.

If you have a better idea — sure, switch to that if you want.

If not, why not keep going?

The time will pass anyway… might as well spend it working on a project you feel passionate about.

Besides, what gives you the power to decide if your idea is stupid or not…?!

Keep going, even if you’re not sure what the point is.

What is the point of anything, when you think about it?

We need to pass our time in some way on this earth.

Creating a piece of art, hitting a ball across a net, or making knitted hats for dogs… no one hobby or pastime is better than another.

Just do what you feel called to do… or what you enjoy doing… or what you’re really damned good at.

Keep going, even though you thought it would be different.

Expectations are a killer of joy.

Let it go.

It is what it is.

Embrace how it is, rather than longing for how you think it should be.

Keep going, even though you feel like a fraud.

Most people feel this way.

I bet the mega successful people feel even more like frauds than those of us starting out :)

Keep going, even though that voice in your head is really strong, and really mean.

You can rise above that voice in your head.

You can talk back to it.

It is not you.

“Shut up, pessimistic voice in my head!

I have no space for your drama or negativity masquerading as truth!”

And the one time you should NOT keep going?

When you no longer enjoy it, at all — in any way, shape or form.

Life’s too short.

Why not have some fun while you’re on this earth?
...
 
And now, over to you!

I’d love to know in the comments: 

​Which of the above most relates to you?

What do you want to keep going on, even if it's tough?

With love,

Claire