Permission to Quit: My Inspired Living Manifesto

I don’t finish everything I start.

I used to feel often feel guilty about that.  We don’t live in a world that rewards “trying for trying’s sake.”  We live in a world that congratulates people who persevere, the ones who don’t give up, the ones who “take a licking and keep on ticking.”  After all, winners never quit and quitters never win…

So I’ve tried to be that person.

It doesn’t always work.  I mean, sometimes I succeed…but sometimes, I don’t.

And you know what?  I’m starting to be okay with that.

Don’t get me wrong.  I firmly believe there are times when it’s worth hanging in for the long haul, pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, pressing on past the fear and the challenges and just “doing the damn thing.”   There are times when the best thing you can do is keep moving forward, even though you’re shaking in your boots and aren’t sure you can move another inch.

But that attitude shouldn’t be applied to everything.

Life ought to include room for just trying things because. you. can!  To me (of course, this is my blog, I’m obviously sharing MY opinion), when you lose the ability and desire to just try things, that’s when life gets dull and boring.  That’s when you find yourself looking around and thinking “is this ALL there is?”

My theory is that there are a million people out there self-medicating themselves with too much alcohol, drugs, affairs, porn, reality TV, internet surfing, and what-have-you because they’re bored and don’t know what to do with themselves. They’ve bought into the idea that every action should be productive and lead to success.  They’re sitting on dreams that they’re too afraid to try because “I’m too old” or “I might fail” or “no one will buy it” or “it’s not practical to do something because you like it” and they’re miserable.  Afraid to really live because they may not be able to “finish what they started.”

I’ve been there.  I fall back more often than I like, beating myself up when I don’t turn every new project into a massive money maker or this huge success. Heck, sometimes I fall back there when I don’t update my blog 5x a week or when I launch a “series” that I don’t follow through with.

This past weekend I decided to cut myself a break.  I made myself this little manifesto and then I decided to share it with ya’ll in case you needed someone to give you permission to cut yourself a break too:

If this inspires and encourages you, feel free to click the image (links to a PDF file) and print it out. Pin it, forward it, share it around… even better, take a moment and write out YOUR inspired living manifesto!  Then post it where it will be a reminder to you that you have permission to live your own life your own way.  (Harming none–of course!).