Posted by Kelly Belmonte in The Creative Process | 8 Comments
Quit Something
A dear friend of mine recently posted the following declaration on FaceBook:
“Starting something new is fun, but I’d like to propose that quitting can also be EXHILARATING.”
This was the result of months of deliberation about her employment situation, the nature of success (and failure), and her personal life goals, leading up to a decision to quit a job that was causing undo stress and imbalance. After several false starts (or “false quits,” to more accurately state the situation), there was the moment of release when she actually delivered the resignation and walked away. At which point she walked toward a greater sense of clarity and freedom than she had felt in a very long time.
Twenty-some Facebook “likes” and comments later from envious well-wishers, I got the sense that my friend had hit a nerve. People’s lives are overfull with unnecessary, unwanted, or unfulfilling detritus. The shame of it all is that we know it but we don’t know what to do about it. Most of us don’t realize that we can – and should – quit. And we should do it often.
I’m not talking about completely dropping out of society, or giving up on important projects. But I propose, with my friend, that quitting something on a regular basis plays an absolutely necessary function in the creative process.
This is true whether writing code for the next killer app or writing the next great American novel. As we go through the iterative process from concept to creation, we have to give up so much more than we keep. It is the chipping away that takes place with any great sculpture. With each letting go, with each chip, the vision of the final sculpture/product/poem/program/painting comes into clearer focus.
That beloved character that you simply adore cannot possibly live to the end of your story. The perfect image placed on the third line of the sonnet… it isn’t perfect there. In fact, it is perfect nowhere in this poem. It must go. The extra side-gadget doohicky on the iPhone – had it stayed, it wouldn’t have been the iPhone. Kill it.
And with each little death, we are brought to life again. The emergence of the “thing” itself exhilarates even as it propels us forward toward that slimmed down bit of new creation we can just about call art.
This is how I think we are meant to live. I am sure it is how we are meant to create. The template for all creative activity is stamped in Genesis 1. The Creator separates specificity out from the nameless void and names singularities. He puts one thing over here, and another over there, careful to keep them from crowding into each other and becoming nameless again. Intent, implementation, naming, evaluation (“good”). And then, after a full week (in God time), He quits. For a spell.
It’s all there at the beginning.
I’m on the side of my friend – and I daresay, the angels – as an enthusiastic proponent of quitting. To quit is to clarify. To quit is to compel your life toward a new or re-energized goal. To quit is to say, “I’ve done all I can do. I am done.” And it is good.
What will you quit today?
I recently decided to quit our church of 9 years. It was the right decision and God has used this process to clarify my vision of how my gifts can be used to build the church.
I know it was the right decision, but it was a painful one none-the-less. Inertia and stubbornness pulled toward staying.
Mark, thank you for sharing your example of how quitting provided clarity. Yes, quitting is freqently painful, especially the longer we’ve been at something. There’s a certain inertia as you say, and also momentum of the routine. I’m glad your decision provided greater opportunity to use your gifts.
I am in the middle of a ‘should I quit’ decision right now. It’s hard to let things/situations/people go. We are always taught that hanging in there is always for the best. And when it comes to God’s commands, we must keep with them. Quitting your marriage just because it’s hard is not God’s way. Switching churches every time there’s a conflict is not God’s way. But there are times when it is the right thing to do.
Like your friend, I quit my job 5 years ago. I had been there nearly 5 years and it had been nothing but stress and misery, especially toward the end. I prayed and cried and agonized over the decision, especially because I had no other job lined up. At the time, I was so relieved to be out of there! (Especially when I learned the day I gave notice that they had been planning to let me go!) I really thought this was God’s plan, and that a new adventure would now await me.
Unfortunately, things don’t always work out they way you hope they will. Five years later, I’m still out of work. I’ve lost my apartment, my 401(k), my independence (as I’m back living with family), my self respect, my sense of self sufficiency, my confidence, my hope, and nearly my trust in God.
As much as I hated that place, I’d give anything to be back.
I hope it works out differently for your friend. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.
In life quitting is so often looked upon as a negative. But when you simply realize God had to quit to began the next step for mankind; quitting take on a whole new meaning. Thanks Kelly, for enlightenment, awesome post.
I like how you put that Tommy, how quitting in this context is really moving to the next step. God gave us a really great example to follow, don’t you think?
He sure did. I wouldn’t be here today working with such a great team if I didn’t quit my last job. Quitting helped me get to the next step in my life and has opened the doors to greater opportunities.
Best. Team. EVER!! Love you guys!
p.s. Can’t wait to see what you’re going to quit next, Melissa! There’s some awesome days ahead for you, my friend.