#191

For the last nine months, my son battled with his car.

It was second-hand, over ten years old, and a constant source of frustration.

Maybe he was just unlucky, but he spent almost as much on repairs as he did on buying it.
Late last year, it broke down again.

This time, it spent four months in the "car hospital," passed between mechanics, each attempting to diagnose and fix it.
No luck. No progress. Just mounting bills and wasted time.

Now, my son isn’t one to give up easily.
He could have pursued more options, sought more opinions, or thrown more money at it.
But at what cost? The car wasn’t just draining his wallet—it was taking his time, energy, and attention.

And that’s the key question: Is this the best way to invest what is finite?

He made the decision to let the car go at a significant loss.
Not because he was giving up on having a car, but because he was giving in to the reality that this one wasn’t worth the continued investment.

We often see "giving up" as failure, but sometimes, it’s just wisdom.
It’s recognising that something no longer serves you, aligns with your values, or contributes to your well-being.

When something takes more than it gives—when it keeps you feeling stuck rather than moving forward—it might be time to walk away quietly.

But "giving in" is different. It’s not about quitting; it’s about surrendering to what is, without forcing what isn’t working.
Sometimes, when something that once brought joy starts to feel like a struggle, we don’t need to abandon it completely—we just need to put it down for a while.

So how do you know when to give up and when to give in?

Give up when:
💭 Something is consistently draining your energy without return.
💭 It no longer aligns with who you are or what’s important to you.
💭 Holding on is causing more harm than letting go.

Give in when:
💭 Something still holds value but has become a struggle.
💭 You need to take a step back to regain perspective.
💭 The effort feels forced, but the passion isn’t entirely gone.

Giving up or giving in isn’t about failure—it’s about redirection. It’s about choosing where to place your energy so that it serves you, rather than drains you.

And sometimes, laying something down for a while is what allows you to pick it back up later with fresh eyes and a renewed sense of connection and purpose.

So, what might you peacefully give up?

And, what might you, with acceptance, give in to?

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Cheers

Pete