Don’t Give up

“Do not fear failure, but please be petrified of regret. Giving up is the birth of regret.”
Deshauna Barber-Echols

No one likes to “fail.” This is particularly haunting because we live in a society that overvalues success and undervalues failure. The fear of failure can be so debilitating that some of us do not even try or simply give up when things do not work out. We have an unrealistic expectation that every effort or desire will always magically happen. Even if we get back up and go at it again, we put limits on how much we will take before we give up.

We plan to give up rather than listen to the still, small voice of God that is often telling us to keep going. I have two sons, and they are 8.5 years apart. Between them, I went into premature labor three times, producing three beautiful babies: Makela, Maya, and Brandon. I was encouraged to give up, and I wanted to give up. This outcome was not the plan; I expected a different result. But I did not give up because I knew I would regret it. My youngest son, Caleb, was the result of not giving up.

Now, each life circumstance is different. I tell this story only to say I know the pressure to give up can be intense. The emotion behind the disappointment, the perceived embarrassment, and the energy it takes to start over again, to start the business, finish the project, or get a new job, etc.

But don't give up! Just keep going. Regret hurts much more than failure.