10 Negative but Important Vices of Life: Giving Up

Perseverance is the cradle of hope, destiny, and fate. Said no one. I am the first to put it like this! Waah, waah… waah, waah.

We have been taught from Day 1 of our conscious lives that “lage raho Munna Bhai” is how you achieve your ambitions and dreams. The intent of: I would keep going and achieve things, now or tomorrow, tomorrow or day after tomorrow. If you keep going, success is sure to be found. And somehow it is applicable to everything. Whether it is cracking an exam or pursuing your lover (unless you are turned down, of course). People who are focused, ambitious, and know what they want; People who are eager to work in the direction are more likely to find their desired destination sooner or later. It’s just like the Hindi proverb:

Bhagwan key ghar,
Der hai, Andher nahi.

Fine. But, what if the coin of perseverance fell into your lap with the flipside of giving up?

Everything has a flipside, right? Even Yin has Yan. Black has white, Roses have thorns. Most people know this, unless their primary attitude be that of a moron.

Giving up should also be considered as an art of living. Sometimes, as a necessary attitude of living. My point of view for this is not carried in this article through an incident or an imaginative love story where there is a toxic partner and one should give up. This idea has found its way because I have realized that if you are too much invested in things that were never supposed to be yours, you are pushing away blessings or delaying them that were knocking at your door.

It is of no surprise how, humans like you and me keep taking some blessings for granted. Sometimes, even our parents. We are too invested in securing things that we have to chase, and in that chase, we leave behind things that were already ours. Gifted by God, wrapped in shining sheets.

But then, you were taught to be perseverant. You were taught that giving up is a coward’s act. You were conditioned that people who give up were never in love with their ambitions at all.

I have seen people give up on things without which their existence seemed pointless.

Giving up is necessary. Taking your steps back and realising that some things were never meant to be yours is necessary. Fighting for such things (dreams, passions, partner) is good but once that fight begins compromising your identity- giving up is necessary. You need to realise that it is not about watering a dead plant. Even a dead plant might someday come alive or just drop a seed of it, to a new life, or regrow itself from its compost. 

A plant- dead or alive would not harm you.

But you are perseverant, and you wish to drink from a broken glass. You are trying to glue it, and drink water from it. A shard of this broken glass can cut your throat inside out.

Giving up is necessary.

The relationship in which you were cheated cannot be and should not be fixed. Ask yourself- if you forgive that person and they talk to another man or another woman, are you afraid? Are you curious? Is their laughter with them giving you sleepless nights? That relationship is not more important than your mental well-being. 

There is a goal that you are pursuing, and it is not manifesting in any form. Did you pause and try earning a living from a different source? Is that goal sucking you tired? Are you wearied out because you think, you are not doing enough things to pull it out?

That exam for which you have prepared for months or years. That exam which you have tried to pass more than thrice. Did you leave better opportunities for something that was just an exam and not the guarantee of a good life?

Perhaps, when you let things go- that no longer serve you. Universe will fill that gaps with things, people, circumstances and chances that finally deserve you. 

Said no one. I am the first to put it like this! Waah, waah… waah, waah.