You know that moment when you’re standing in the kitchen at 9:47 PM, staring into the fridge, hoping maybe something inspiring will magically appear, even though you’ve checked three times already? Yeah. That’s not hunger. That’s LIFE BURNOUT.
Let’s talk about it.
Because truthfully, we've all hit that point where giving up feels like the only logical solution. When everything feels uphill and you’ve lost count of how many hills there are. (Spoiler: It’s Everest. Emotionally, it’s always Everest.)
But here’s the thing I remind myself, often while covered in cat hair and holding a half-eaten apple: When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place.
Holding On with Grit, Grace… and a Lot of Swearing
I’ve been through my fair share of “I give up” moments. The kind where you’re not even dramatically throwing in the towel, just quietly folding it and putting it back in the linen cupboard because even that level of chaos feels exhausting.
Like when I moved back to the UK after 22 years in Canada. “Fresh start,” they said. “It’ll be fun,” they said. They didn’t mention the part where I wouldn’t be allowed to work due to the infamous three-year residency rule for any jobs within the Government. Yep, a bred British citizen, and somehow I was less eligible to work than a drunk pigeon on the Elizabeth Line.
I remember staring at the my career coach, trying not to cry while also resisting the urge to ask the him if he, too, enjoyed the bureaucratic nightmares. And in that moment, between the fury and the powerlessness, I remembered why I came back: to give my son a better chance. To restart. To reclaim my life. To help mum.
Suddenly, that towel stayed in the cupboard.
Sometimes You’re the Plot Twist
Here's the uncomfortable truth: it’s not the shiny moments that define us; it’s the ugly ones. The ones where we want to throw up our hands and shout, “Screw this, I’m moving to a yurt in the Himalayas.”
You know what got me through those moments?
- Remembering why I started.
- Laughing at how bad it was (eventually).
- Making a cup of tea that could double as paint stripper.
One of my favourite “almost gave up” moments was back when I launched Henna4You and made the dramatic leap from steady employment to self-employed madness. Festivals. Corporate events. Party glitter everywhere. At one point, I was surviving on adrenaline, late-night emails, and samosas.
There were weekends I was so exhausted I forgot my own name (but remembered every child who wanted a “princess crown, or a fairy, or a princess”). And every single time I questioned what on earth I was doing, someone’s smile, usually a 7-year-old covered in henna and candyfloss reminded me.
You don’t hold on through chaos for no reason. You hold on because something inside you believes it matters.
Mindfulness in the Meltdown
Okay, I know mindfulness gets a bad rep sometimes. People think it means sitting cross-legged, chanting while surrounded by candles made from bees wax that you nurtured in the garden.
But real mindfulness?
It’s that moment where you pause. Not because you’ve mastered Zen, but because you’re about to scream into a pillow and you know there’s a better way.
Mindfulness is asking yourself mid-meltdown: “Am I actually failing? Or am I just overwhelmed and tired and need a snack and a cuddle from a dog named Samosa?” (Spoiler: it’s usually the second one.)
Try this: Next time you’re about to give up, take one long, deep breath. Not a fancy yogic breath.
Just a good ol’ fashioned sigh. Then ask:
- What made me start?
- What would my past self say about this?
- Am I actually quitting, or do I just need to rest?
Nine times out of ten, you’re not quitting. You’re pausing. There’s a HUGE difference.
Journal Prompt #1:
What have you already survived that you once thought would break you?
- List three moments where you felt like giving up but didn’t.
- What helped you through it?
- Who were you holding on for?
Laugh at the Sh*tstorm
One of the best pieces of advice I ever got? “If you can’t laugh at it, you’re not through it yet.”
Humour is healing. It lets you reclaim power. That’s why I write blogs that mix heartbreak with sarcasm and cultural sass. Like the time I applied for jobs and got rejection emails faster than my chai could brew. Or when I created a whole retreat business while also navigating peri-menopause, adult sons with ADHD, and the Canadian school system.
Trust me, if I didn’t laugh, I’d cry, and probably never stop.
So, if you’re on the verge of giving up, go watch something stupid. Send yourself a meme. Dance in the kitchen like no one’s watching (except your dog, who’s judging you hard). Laughter brings you back to life.
You’re Allowed to Pause, But Not Quit
There’s this weird pressure these days to be “on” all the time. Always hustling, always glowing up, always productive. But what if the glow-up includes napping? Or rage-cleaning? Or yelling “plot twist!” every time life sucker-punches you?
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to not quit.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
- It's okay to sit down for a bit.
- It’s okay to cry it out in the loo (been there).
- It’s okay to take a break from trying so hard.
But if your gut says, “I’m still in this,” then you don’t quit. You just rest, reset, and return when you’re ready.
What Held You On This Long?
Let’s do a little journaling moment here, shall we?
Ask yourself:
- What did I believe in when I started?
- What vision made me hold on through the messy bits?
- Who am I becoming through this challenge?
Because the truth is, you're not the same person who started. You’ve grown. You’ve adapted.
You’ve probably cried in the Marks & Spencer’s car park and kept going.
You’ve got proof that you can get through tough stuff. So let this moment of doubt be exactly that, a moment. Not a full stop.
Journal Prompt #2:
- What does your “why” look like right now?
- Has it changed?
- Does it need refining?
- Write about the thing, or the feeling that’s worth holding on for. Even if it’s just inner peace, a hot bath, or proving your teenage son or daughter wrong.
Final Thought (Before You Throw That Towel)
If you’re at your wit’s end financially, emotionally, hormonally:
I SEE YOU. I’ve BEEN there. I AM there, sometimes.
I’ve stood in front of closed doors, screaming internally, “I’ve done everything right. Why is this still so bloody hard?!”
But I also know what happens when you keep showing up.
I know that joy can sneak back in. That your resilience gets stronger. That one day, you’ll look back at this season and laugh, not because it was easy, but because you DIDN’T QUIT.
So, my lovely friend: if today feels heavy, that’s okay. But take a deep breath, pour a cuppa, and remind yourself:
You held on this long for a reason.
Keep going. Your plot twist is coming.
