Don't Give Up: What Does It mean To You?

Are you being stubborn, are you afraid to change, or should you keep giving it your all?

The words "don’t give up" used to mean something very different to me. When I was younger, it meant you keep trying even if you don’t succeed; if it’s hard, you just have to try harder.

Before I started working for Uber Eats, I spent 21 years of my life at one company. In 2021, a lot of people in my department quit. It was a mixture of things—some graduated and moved into their fields, some found higher pay, and some probably just hated it there. I had to train a lot of people at once, and it was incredibly stressful. I worked so hard to make sure everything was done correctly and followed every safety guideline.

Then, in 2022, it started happening again, but the situation was even harder. I had a different manager who didn’t support me. The stress turned into anxiety—something I don't usually struggle with. I lost 25 pounds in six months. I felt like I had already given my "all" the year before, and I was just done. I quit. It was time to change direction.

The Difference Between Alignment and Friction

To me, "don't give up" shouldn't mean you keep trying when something obviously isn't for you. When a path isn't yours, everything is a struggle. But when you find something that aligns with you, it feels different.

You still have to work hard, and you’ll still face failures, but those failures feel like a sturdy foundation. They feel like saying, "Okay, I'm getting closer to success because now I know what doesn't work." When you’re chasing something that isn't in your heart, you just feel stuck. There’s no passion to pull you forward.

Stubbornness vs. Letting Go

When I first quit, I felt like I had given up. That was my perspective at the time because I was so stubborn. I wouldn’t give up on anything—even when I knew I deserved better. I settled for "miserable" because I thought that was just what life was.

The experience was so damaging that I literally couldn't try any harder. My heart and soul knew I had to leave, even though my mind was terrified. Realistically, I could have fought to stay, but for what? To be unhappy? To have different scenery while feeling the same lack of passion?

The idea of "giving up" cut through me. It made me feel like something was wrong with me. But looking back, I realize I had wanted to leave for five years. I stayed because I was comfortable and stable. I didn’t know then that I would get into crocheting, poetry, blogging, or creating a fashion line. I thought I would just work, stay miserable, and retire.

I didn't give up. I let go.

It takes a lot of strength to leave the only life you’ve known. It was messing with my mental, physical, and emotional health. It even made me act out of character; I wasn't being kind to people, and I hated that about myself. All the signs were there, but I wouldn't have left if things hadn't gotten that bad. My intuition was finally telling me to stop fighting. I didn't belong in that small pond anymore.

The Bridge to Awareness

The relief I felt when I finally left was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I had lost 25 pounds from stress, and suddenly I felt "light" for the first time.

I chose Uber Eats as my "bridge." At first, I tried DoorDash and GrubHub, but ran into technical issues or waitlists. Uber Eats was the one that opened up, and it turned out to be exactly what I needed. It gave me the alone time I had been missing. I had been too busy to actually feel what was going on inside me. This new flexibility allowed me to gain awareness and be there for my daughter’s travel soccer schedule.

The Ultimate Question

When you’re faced with the choice to "give up" or keep trying, ask yourself: Is it worth it?

• Giving up because you’re scared is one thing.

• Changing direction because your heart isn’t in it is another.

Your mind will always try to keep you "safe" based on your past experiences. But here is the truth that cut the deepest for me: By staying at that job, I was giving up on myself.

Every day, I was choosing a job that did nothing for me over my own well-being. Now, I choose to love myself. I choose to trust the transition. I choose to believe in myself.

I hope you can answer these questions honestly for yourself. When you are honest, everything changes. You don’t change who you are; you just let go of the habits and behaviors that aren't serving you. The more stubborn you are, the harder it is to let go—trust me, I know. But once you do, you finally have room to grow.

Reflect & Reset: Are You Giving Up or Letting Go?

"Staying at that job, I was giving up on myself. That was my choice every day."

When we are stuck in the "grind," it’s hard to tell if we are being resilient or just being stubborn. Use these five questions to check in with your heart and soul.

1. How is your body reacting to this situation?

In my journey, I lost 25 pounds from stress and felt a "heaviness" every day.

• Your turn: Are you experiencing unexplained anxiety, exhaustion, or physical tension? Is your body trying to tell your mind something that you’re ignoring?

2. Are you staying because of "Comfortable Stability" or "True Alignment"?

I stayed for 21 years because I was comfortable, even though I knew five years ago it wasn't for me.

• Your turn: If you lost the "stability" of this situation tomorrow, would you feel a sense of loss or a secret sense of relief?

3. Is the "work" building a foundation or just draining the well?

When you’re aligned, even failure feels like a step toward success. When you aren’t, even success feels like a burden.

• Your turn: Does the effort you're putting in today feel like it's building a future you actually want to live in?

4. Who are you "giving up" on?

We often think quitting a job or a habit is "giving up." But usually, staying in a toxic environment is actually giving up on yourself.

• Your turn: By staying exactly where you are, what parts of your potential, your joy, or your health are you sacrificing?

5. What is your "Bridge"?

I used Uber Eats as a bridge to get out of a draining environment and find the space to think.

• Your turn: You don't have to jump into your "dream life" tomorrow. What is one small change—a "bridge"—you can take to create the space you need to breathe?

Remember I am not any type of doctor. I am sharing my own journey. Maybe these question or what I share could help you with your growth. I am spreading awareness of self-love and you do not have to go about anything the same way I do. It is to help you feel what you should do for you.

I love you.

This is Love