Never give up, ever ...

Getting on a level with you, I have to say for all my faults one thing I feel blessed with is a relentlessness. Even during times where I couldn’t fathom how I continued, I realised that I would continue to keep going.

This often makes me wonder; where does such a trait come from? Why is it there? What exactly is its purpose or reason? Why don’t we just give up or stop something when things get hard or appear to overwhelm us?

I think, like some of you, I may have been brought up within a time that was tougher by comparison. This level of conditioning created a standard and acceptance that ultimately just becomes a part of you. Yes, it’s hard but you don’t feel or really acknowledge it. It’s just how things are.

The other part to my own enquiries relating to “why does this feeling or habit exist” I think is actually the mechanism for how we become ‘more’, or ‘better’ or increase our awareness. You see, I learned early on that in order for humans to develop this is typically only something they will do when pushed to the edge. It’s when a human is staring oblivion in the face that they will change their ways, as is the case with so many people who adopt a healthy lifestyle when the doctor issues the yellow card.

Each time we go through something, we tangibly raise our awareness within that specific thing. So never giving up is really just another phrase for accepting the growth and awareness that comes from harder times. But here is the problem;

Humans believe things are done “to them.” When this externalisation dominates the thought process then the opportunity of growth is put at risk because there is no acceptance that what has been brought about was of the individual’s own doing. Maybe they got themselves into something in which they lacked the skills to play the game or they weren’t operating at a level to achieve any other outcome than the unintended one. However it plays out, a good daily practice is to take responsibility for everything that happens to you, both good and bad.

Many individuals will blame their upbringing, with such phrases as “I haven’t had the opportunities that others had early in life,” or “I believe like this because my parents did ‘x’ to me.” This may be so and there’s no refuting that, but what I say is; maybe it wasn’t “your fault” but it is your responsibility to do something about it, otherwise the alternative is to resign yourself to a life that will continually underwhelm you.

For me, the last 3 years has been nothing short of brutal, but as I slowly learn the deep lessons I find myself becoming ‘more’, as well as being better able to deal with any situation that isn’t as challenging or harsh as some of the prodigious issues that have come up, all of which I take responsibility for.

There is no question it can feel uncomfortable, rough, panic-ridden and deeply unpleasant but to keep putting one foot in front of the other and always remembering that there are things happening outside of your control, sometimes for the better, it means that anything is possible.

If you want to talk more about this within your own life I am happy to schedule some time via consultation, it is an expansive field, and we can’t cover everything in this one article, but I hope some of what I have said has helped.

Andy
www.andymcglynn.com