Quietly quitting is my go-to strategy. In almost every area of my life, it shows up in my decisions. Whether by choice or as a trauma-induced response, the quitter in me often leaves relationships, jobs, and friendships without warning—no explanation, no closure. I just disappear.
So why is it still so hard to quit some things?
In my case, I struggle with a certain green leafy product. It’s my go-to, my inspiration, and my motivation—but also my anxiety, my setback, my health issues, and my psychosis. Even knowing the negatives, I still find it difficult to let go.
The quitter in me should find this easy. But I’m still trying to wrap my head around the paradox: my cravings cause anxiety, which makes me want to smoke, which only gives me more anxiety. I’m caught in a loop I need to break. And I know it won’t be easy.
Why do we quit some things easily and cling to other, more toxic habits? Maybe it’s because they serve a purpose—usually one we don’t want to look at. If our pain stays hidden, we can’t examine it. And if we can’t examine it, we can’t change it. We carry it around because unless we face it, it’s always going to be there.
So what’s not working? Everything, sometimes. It can feel hopeless. But I have to stay positive. Small steps—that’s the path forward. The quitter in me wants to avoid the hard stuff: the awkward conversations, the discomfort, the inner confrontation. But quitting well, quitting intentionally, takes real work. It means sitting with the urge and looking it in the eye.
Have you ever had to quit something hard? What did you do to stay on task when things were rough?
