What's the difference between giving up and letting go? | A Bit of Optimism #Podcast

25 Apr 2025 · 1 min

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A short spoken reflection (podcast/monologue) exploring how to distinguish ‘giving up’ from ‘letting go’ using a personal cost–benefit test: ask whether the sacrifices involved are worth the intended goals; continue if yes, stop if no. The speaker shares personal examples of enduring stressful sacrifices and walking away when costs become unbearable.

Chapters

What's the difference between giving up and letting go? In my mind, it's a very simple test. Is the sacrifice worth it? And if the answer is yes, you keep going. If the answer is no, you stop. I've done many things that I hate that play to all of my weaknesses, that cause me stress and sleepless nights and broken relationships. But if I'm really honest with myself and I look at what I'm trying to accomplish and what I'm trying to do in the world, and if I ask myself, is the sacrifice worth it? And the answer is yes, you just keep going. But there are also things that I've done that become excruciating, and the sacrifice no longer feels worth it, and I'm happy to walk away.