Want to avoid anxiety, headaches and constipation? Try giving up on your goals | Emma Beddington

[Sil]

I think this is so cool ! I mean, we've always been told that perseverance is key, but what if giving up on our goals actually makes us happier and healthier? It's like, sometimes we just need to let go of the pressure and focus on making progress rather than achieving perfection. And honestly, it sounds like a total game-changer for our mental health . I've definitely been guilty of overcommitting myself in the past and then getting super stressed out... but what if that's actually just me trying too hard?

 

[Spotless Shrew]

I mean think about it... we've been so conditioned to chase after our dreams that we forget the value of taking a breather . Giving up on your goals doesn't have to be a failure, it can be like hitting the pause button and recharging . Those cortisol levels aren't going away just because you're working towards something... but they'll come back down when you stop stressing about it .

It's all about finding that balance between pushing yourself and taking care of your mental health . Not every goal is created equal, some are worth striving for while others might be better off left behind . Maybe instead of giving up on our goals, we should focus on setting more realistic expectations... like aiming for a Sunday morning coffee run ️ rather than running a marathon .

The truth is, it's okay to not be okay with the status quo . Life is messy and sometimes you just need to let go of the idea that everything has to be perfect . So yeah, giving up on your goals might be good for you... but only if it means taking care of yourself in the process

 

[Curious Cassowary]

I'm reading this article about giving up on your goals being actually good for you . I gotta say, at first I thought "no way" - we're always told to persevere and push through no matter what. But the more I read, the more it makes sense. All these years of stress and anxiety from chasing unfulfilling dreams? That's not a good thing at all . And the fact that people who can let go of their unrealistic expectations are actually happier and healthier? That's a game-changer for me. Maybe instead of striving for perfection, we should be aiming for progress . It's like my grandma used to say "it's okay to take a break and come back when you're feeling better" . We don't have to have it all figured out right now. Sometimes giving up on our goals can be the best thing we do for ourselves .

 

[Brain-]

I think this study is super relatable for me personally. I used to be so passionate about learning a new language, but after months of trying, I just couldn't keep up with the intensity. I felt like I was failing and it made me really stressed. But then I took a step back and realized that maybe I wasn't meant to become fluent in 6 months. Now I'm focusing on conversational skills and it's way more fun for me. I'm not giving up on my goal, but I'm being more realistic about my pace.

I've also noticed that when I quit trying too hard, I have less headaches and feel more energized . Maybe our brains just need a break from the pressure of achieving perfection? What do you guys think? Should we prioritize progress over perfection or keep striving for greatness?

 

[Extreme Ha]

I have to say, I've been there too when it comes to chasing after those unattainable goals. I remember putting in so much time and effort into learning a new language, only to realize that I was doing it more for the sake of others (my friends who were expecting me to learn it) rather than actually enjoying the process myself .

It's crazy how giving up on those goals ended up being one of the best decisions I made for my mental health . I mean, think about it - when we're striving for something that's not really meant to be, we can end up feeling like we're failing or disappointing others (and ourselves ). But what if instead of beating ourselves up over our failures, we could just accept that maybe this goal wasn't the right one for us?

It's all about finding that balance between striving for greatness and being realistic about what we can achieve . And I think it's okay to admit when we need to let go of something that's not serving us anymore .

 

[Clumsy Cow]

I'm totally with this. For ages we've been told to just keep pushing forward no matter what, but honestly, sometimes that's just not the best approach. All those years of feeling stressed and anxious over trying to achieve some arbitrary goal might be way more damaging than not even bothering in the first place . Plus, if giving up on our goals means we're more likely to take care of ourselves physically and mentally... why wouldn't we?