THE STRESS – QUIT CONNECTION

A woman standing on top of a mountain with mountains in the background.

THE STRESS – QUIT CONNECTION 

 The mind can only handle so much overwhelm before cognition falters and before we subconsciously or consciously assert that the stress of the action outweighs the gratification awaiting at the end. 

 This is QUITTING. 

 QUITTING is deciding that the pain is bigger than the desire for the outcome (at least in the moment) Too often the question becomes “How to push through the pain” when it truly should be, “How do I make this thing less painful so that I can commit to the long game?” STRESS is the feeling that comes from FEAR as well as OVERWHELM. Two common occurrences in regards to lifestyle modifications.

YOU ARE NOT A QUITTER!

You are triggered to quit.

As a coach, I see this QUIT trigger often either in Business, Fitness, Diet or Relationship. As a parent we QUIT on our kids after a long day of “Mom, he….” or “I don’t want to eat that/go to bed.. etc. etc.

At this point we blow up, forgo all rational patience in the situation, start barking orders and threats until the noise just stops. This is similar to what happens when we quit a desired lifestyle modification. The STRESS of the diet or quitting the substance or addiction feels too painful or the outside pain in life becomes stronger than our our desire to proceed to the finish line. 

THE PAIN NEEDS TO GO AWAY NOW

“My relationship ended and sitting with the emotion tonight is too much, I QUIT” (reach for alcohol) 

“My job is relentless and hard and I have nothing to look forward to” (Reach for junk food after days or weeks of following a new path)

YOU ARE NOT A QUITTER. YOU ARE A FEELER OF PAIN. 

The question then becomes, “How can I make this process less painful? What’s THE most powerful thing that I could do right now, to lessen the pain and continue to the reward that I DESERVE?” 

Now, when struggling with the relationship loss, we choose to reach for the phone and get connected to a healthy, empowering friend or counselor or maybe we lace up our shoes and punch a gym bag. 

One choice tells us that because the pain is too much, we will choose a different pain. The other choice sends a message to our subconscious that WE WILL NOT LET PAIN STEAL OUR DESERVED REWARD. OUR DESIRVED LIFE

It’s not a perfect science, but when we fall victim to overwhelm, stress and pain (which we ALL do and WILL) we can choose to ask a better question. The outcome that we truly deserve is awaiting us, one question at a time. 

One obstacle at a time. One victory at a time.