Since quitting can start feelings such as guilt and shame, we often do everything possible to avoid it, "We're taught from our earliest days that if you quit something, it means you're a failure," says the psychologist Will Meek. He, however, suggests we view quitting differently.
Quitting is like deciding to rearrange a room: you've grown comfortable with the status, and it can be hard to picture the end result or even see why change is necessary. And yet, there's the upsetting feeling that you're no longer entirely satisfied with your current circumstances, perhaps even that you've stopped making progress. While it's not out of the question for feelings of regret to surface after a major refit, leaving a position, project or situation can reveal exciting possibilities, making you feel inspired and renewed.
Quitting, often happens in situations where we're unhappy, fearful or have determined we have no other choice, factors that can have ill effects on our health. Perhaps you find your work unfulfilled, or you've jumped into a new relationship before you're ready--and, as a result, you're operating under intense pressure. "If stress is enduring and not managed well, it can start to take a toll," says Meek. According to the American Psychological Association, long-term, ongoing stress can increase the risk for high blood pressure and heart attack so walking away from whatever is causing it can deliver significant physical and emotional health benefits. "We often see a reduction in the stress hormone cortisol(应激激素皮质醇)", which can lower blood pressure and may even decrease the heart rate," says Dr Alex Lickerman, a GP and expert on developing mental adaptability.
Leaving situations that fail to bring you joy can leave you with sufficient time to explore where your heart is truly leading you. In a study that was published in 1999, then Harvard University professor Hermina Ibarra looked at how bankers tried different roles that required new skill sets--someone who spent a lot of time dealing with computers, for instance, was asked to take on personal interactions. Subjects(研究对象) were especially drawn to acting out a version of their future selves through 'imitation strategies' —an approach they compared to 'trying on different clothes.' Mark Franklin, the president of CareerCycles, suggests a similar approach as a way to figure out what your true desires might be in your post-quitting life and foresee your future self. "Pretend to be a certain kind of person, or go and meet others who are doing what you want to do," he says. "Try it on, see how it feels and decide if it's a good fit for you." It may not feel like it at the time, but just moving on from a situation that's not quite right can help you get back on track.
