We all have situations and hurts in our life that leave us scarred, broken or bruised. Many times we try to push through and fix the situation or come to a place where everything feels resolved but that’s not always possible. Sometimes it’s not even worth it to keep trying.

I can think of several situations and examples in my own life where I have made the difficult decision to throw in the towel and leave, or abandon the issue completely. And though I am typically a person who tries again and again to make things right and put in the work, I can safely say that the times I’ve identified where I need to throw in the towel and take a step back have easily been the best choice for me.

Looking back at all of these moments, I find it heartening to know that in the end, I realized that I needed to put a focus on my own mental health and chose an action and path that prioritized my overall well-being, no matter how hard the decision was in the first place.

I think we all need a reminder at times to realize that it takes courage and bravery to walk away from some things rather than allowing ourselves to have our mental health deteriorate in a situation that is not improving.

For some people this shows up in romantic relationships, friendships, family dynamics, religion, career environments, and all sorts of other ways. You often know it’s time to go even before you admit it to yourself.

When you hit that point and realize that it’s time to cut yourself loose from that situation you’ve been dealing with, please know that it doesn’t mean you’re a failure. It’s unrealistic to juggle all the things life throws at us and never expect to drop something along the way.

With hurt and trauma that we’ve all experienced, not everyone is going to fully understand the pain we are in constantly for the remainder of our lives from those events, and they may not understand why we feel it’s time to bail on a situation. But that doesn’t make it wrong.

Like the old adage “If you love something, let it go”, I’ve certainly realized over time that by dropping certain things that I truly did love or care about, it’s allowed me to pick up new, healthier things that bring joy to my life and make my mental state so much better overall.

Life’s hard, decisions are tough. Take a deep breath, you know what’s right for you.

I leave you with some song lyrics by Taylor Swift from her song “It’s Time To Go”.
Link to the song itself is below as well. Have a listen.

That old familiar body ache
The snaps from the same little breaks in my soul
I know when it’s time to go

Sometimes giving up is the strong thing
Sometimes to run is the brave thing
Sometimes walking out is the one thing
That will find you the right thing

That will find you the right thing
And you know in your soul
And you know in your soul
When it’s time to go

You know, you know, you know, you know
When it’s time to go

So then you go
Then you go
You just go