Push or Pause: The Power of Knowing When

As the days go by, certain questions keep popping up in our minds: Why am I not where I thought I’d be? How is everyone moving ahead while I’m stuck here? Often, these doubts arise because we compare ourselves to others. But is comparison always a bad thing?

I don’t believe comparing yourself to others is necessarily wrong. The real issue is how you respond to that comparison. If you're working hard on something you truly care about, something you’ve put your heart and soul into, but you're not seeing the results you hoped for, a big question emerges: Should I keep pushing forward, or is it time to pause and rethink?

There was a time when these thoughts constantly plagued me too. I’d stay up wondering, Is this really worth it? But over time, after many experiences and lessons, I’ve come to understand something important: if you’re doing something that genuinely makes you happy, something that feels right for you, then you owe it to yourself to keep going. But—and this is key—this only applies when you're walking your own path, not someone else’s. You might know the destination, but if the journey isn’t yours, you’re just wandering without purpose.

Let me share a real-life example. I once met someone who spent 28 years preparing for a government job. After wasting so much time chasing that dream, they eventually settled for a job as a medical representative at a pharmaceutical company. On the other hand, I recently experienced a valuable lesson: keep pursuing something only until it doesn’t hurt other areas of your life. Blindly chasing a goal, hoping things will change, can close off better opportunities.

There’s a fine line between persistence and being stuck in a dead end. Changing direction is not failure; wasting your time on something that’s not giving you anything in return is.

So, when you find yourself questioning whether to keep going or let go, remember: it's not about giving up. It's about knowing when to make a smart choice and move towards something better.

Abhinav Dubey , @theabhinavdubey