Mastering the Art of Quitting

Learning How to Quit

Quitting is an essential life tool, but nobody wants to be called a “quitter.” Society values persistence and celebrates heroes who reach their goals against all odds. Sometimes fear of failure keeps you going even when your goal is unrealistic. Being aware and informed and then quitting thoughtfully engages your thoughts, emotions, motivation and behavior to set you on a new path. Learning how and when to quit opens fresh opportunities for success in careers and relationships.

Set aside cultural myths like the children’s book The Little Engine That Could or the film about a valiant boxer, Rocky. Don’t perpetuate the fallacy that persistence always pays. Turn your attention to overcoming any mental obstacles that may blind you to the very real need to quit.

Through experiments, psychologists are learning more about how the human brain locks people into patterns of persistence. Be aware of these mental heuristics or mechanisms:

• Being deceived by a “near win” – In experiments, gamblers’ brains reacted almost the same way to a near win as to a win – they kept playing. Your brain reframes a loss into a near...