Imagine being held in a prisoner of war camp for seven years. The torture, the beatings, and the desperation for it to end. Additionally, imagine fighting through that each day, for seven years. This is what happened to Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale in the Vietnam War.
It would have been easy to give in to the torture and the pain. No one would have looked at Stockdale differently. But Stockdale had too many reasons to not give in. The love of his country, his morals, his family and the other American prisoners of war. Among them was a man named John McCain. If that name sounds familiar McCain led a lengthy career as U.S. Senator for Arizona, from 1987-2018. McCain, like Stockdale, had many reasons not to give up. John McCain had a card to play, he could have been released with the help of his father, who was an important and powerful naval officer.
Both refused to quit. Instead, they built a brotherhood with all the prisoners of war. McCain refused medical treatment and to involve his father. This is not a story of “manliness,” this is a story to pass along encouragement.
What about you? Giving up on the book after seven weeks of writing. Giving up on the business after seven months because it’s too hard. Stockdale spent seven years in torture and McCain spent six years in the same conditions. If they can take that punishment, what are you complaining about? There are too many reasons. Too many reasons not to quit. Paying off debt, losing weight, continuing to grow the business or connecting with an estranged parent.
We give up too easy, to than wonder why results don’t follow. Why our lives are not what we want them to be. Maybe you should stop quitting so easily. As the expression goes if it were easy, everyone would do it. Which is why quitting is the chosen path. It’s the one of least resistance. Run towards what scares you. It makes you stronger. If you find a challenge, than that is the direction you need to go towards. Build yourself up. Don’t quit. Especially if you have children. They’re always watching.
Thought Provoking Question 1 : What has made you quit?
Thought Provoking Question 2 : What are your reasons to continue?
Dan Roman is a Husband, Father, and writer that releases a daily blog. A quick read on sharing wisdom and asking though-provoking questions.
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