Is it time to stop trying?
How many of us have sacrificed our weekends for a work project? Or spent countless hours in front of a computer, applying filters in Excel to extract data from a table without fully understanding its purpose? In moments like these, it’s easy to think it might be time to stop trying.
The word “trying” comes from the Latin verb tempto. In its original language, it means much more than just making an effort or experimenting with something. It also encompasses meanings like touching, exposing oneself, being tempted, and putting into action. Truly, the idea of giving up after a titanic effort without receiving the deserved recognition is tempting. But shouldn’t we feel proud of ourselves for accomplishing something that once seemed impossible?
When we feel discouraged or lose perspective, the idea of giving up becomes tangible. However, trying once more, twice, or a thousand times is part of what makes us human. It’s because we try to make our families happy that we endure another Excel spreadsheet. It’s because we try to change our social reality that we stay up until 3 a.m. studying for an exam when we should be resting for work the next morning. It’s because we want to make the world better for those we love that we never stop trying.
Yes, there comes a time when we must stop trying. But when is the right moment? Thomas Edison, the inventor of the incandescent light bulb, when asked about his numerous failures in developing his most famous invention, said:
I didn’t fail 999 times; I found 999 ways not to make a light bulb.
The time to stop trying is when we sacrifice what is most valuable to us—something worth more than gold or silver. This invaluable asset, which even the wealthiest would pay to acquire, is our mental, physical, psychological, and emotional health. It’s also time to stop when we sacrifice our closest and most intimate relationships. After all, no one is an island; at most, we’re archipelagos.
When undertaking something and wondering if it’s time to stop trying, ask yourself for one week:
What really matters?
If the answer is different from the activity you’re performing over those seven days, it’s time to readjust your sails, take a deep breath, and plan a new course for your life. If not, give it your all, for the rewards will come in due time.
Stopping doesn’t mean giving up on a dream, our convictions, or changing who we are. It means pausing what doesn’t contribute to our personal and professional growth. A final reminder:
Trying doesn’t guarantee success... but everyone who succeeded once tried.