28 Comments
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Kimberley Nkosi's avatar

Needed this!!

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

I’m happy it helped ❤️

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Kenzie Wisdom's avatar

This is spot on! Such a fine line, but one to be aware of. Thanks for sharing!

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

Pleasure!

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Erifili Gounari's avatar

This was so well written Anna, thank you for structuring your thoughts so clearly & sharing them with us - super helpful!! I had tried to write a chapter about this for my book and found it impossible, while you just conveyed it so perfectly in a 1 min read. Love!!

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

Oh thank you 🥹. I have a lot of personal experience walking away from things I've worked very hard to build 🤣

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Florence Mary's avatar

It's funny because I'm so good at staying when it's the wrong kind of hard (I'm dead inside but I feel like I can't quit because it's not wise), and so good at giving up quickly when it's the right kind of hard (omg it's too hard I can't make it).

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

Oo this is such a powerful insight. I wonder what lies beneath this? 👀

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Eleana Josephine🧚🏻's avatar

Ugh I love this!! Choose your hard part really stuck out to me. And knowing when to actually walk away if necessary. I find it hard to choose when to quit. I also find it hard to get motivation when my feelings r too loud. So choosing my hard will become my new motto! Love the voice memo thing too makes was lovely to hear your expression ❤️

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

I feel like not enough people talk about the fact that quitting is an important skill to learn and that actually, walking away can be a great thing, not something to be ashamed of. I proudly quit stuff now when I know that the time is up or it’s no longer serving me ❤️

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Shayna Grajo's avatar

Wonderful question, wonderful read. I'm sure you get the comment a million times, but I love your narration voice. Definitely will check out the free training! 😜😘

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

I’ve never had anyone say that to me, but thank you 😂😍

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Shayna Grajo's avatar

Whaaat then glad to be the first!

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Nicole Pyles's avatar

I had to do that recently. Not necessarily quit but accept my persistence in trying wasn't paying off and it was leading to greater anxiety. And so I let go of a writing gig that had quit on me and moved on. Still trying to move on but I'm glad I let go.

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

Oof. I think if something or someone has quit on you, then it's absolutely time for you to quit too. ❤️

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Kate Citron's avatar

This is so beautifully articulated. I recently stepped away from a role that was no longer right for me and kept thinking about how the younger version of myself never would have made that decision. I was too caught up in the narrative around persistence and consistency being the more noble choice, but fortunately, I know better now.

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

Congratulations on making that big move. New doorways have now opened for you, I'm sure!

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Jessica Hatzis's avatar

Love this piece Anna, resonate so deeply.

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

Thanks beautiful ❤️

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Anna Raskind's avatar

Hello from a fellow Anna - what an amazing framework -- right hard vs wrong hard -- that sums up a lot of the very abstract ways I've tried to wrestle with this question before. It reminds me of a great conversation I had about career growth and how it's genuinely hard sometimes to know how to listen to your gut.

https://annaraskind.substack.com/p/reflections-on-not-having-the-perfect

Thank you for this amazing post! I will be using it to think about my own tradeoffs and future decisions :)

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

So hard!! But I've learned that in the end, life becomes even harder if you DON'T listen.

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Madeleine's avatar

Love this! I came across an article the other day about identifying those signs that the spark is dying and burn out is imminent. Like you say, sometimes it's hard to find the blurry line, but there are always signs. https://happymediumps.substack.com/i/160040208/happiness-of-the-pursuit

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

There always are, and it takes a lot of intention and the space to be able to tune into them, for sure.

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Samantha Chong's avatar

was JUST talking to a mentor about this today - about knowing when to throw in the towel or keep going. thank you for this!!

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

It can be really tricky to figure out but I hope people know that quitting isn’t giving up, it’s simply redirection.

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Samantha Chong's avatar

100% - it's a chance to stumble into something that might bring more joy

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Vanessa Torres's avatar

needed this one today, thank you for sharing 🤍

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

You’re welcome, always ❤️

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