How I Found Motivation When I Wanted to Quit

When Giving Up Feels Easier

There’s a point in every journey when quitting feels easier than continuing.

When your body is tired, your mind is drained, and every bit of motivation you had starts fading away.

I’ve been there.

As a medical student, I’ve faced moments when the books felt heavier than my dreams. When every page looked the same, and every word sounded like noise. There were nights when I questioned if all this effort was even worth it.

But somewhere in those dark moments, I found my reason to keep going — and it changed everything.

The Breaking Point

It was during my second year of medical studies. The workload was at its peak. I was constantly buried under lectures, practicals, and endless notes.

One night, I sat in my room, surrounded by open books, and I just… stopped. My mind went blank.

No energy, no motivation — just exhaustion.

I remember whispering to myself, “Maybe this isn’t for me.”

That sentence scared me. Because deep down, I knew how much I loved what I was doing. But at that moment, love wasn’t enough to keep me going.

So, I closed my books and just sat there, staring at the wall — feeling lost, defeated, and unsure of myself for the first time.

The Voice That Pulled Me Back

As I sat in silence, my phone buzzed. It was a message from my father. He simply wrote:

> “I know it’s hard, but remember why you started. You’re doing something great. We believe in you.”

Those words hit me harder than anything else could.

I looked around my study table — the books, the notes, the scribbled diagrams — and I realized something. All of this wasn’t just about passing exams. It was about becoming the person I dreamed of being — someone who could help others, save lives, and make a difference.

That small message from my father reminded me that motivation doesn’t always come from strength; sometimes it comes from love.

Starting Again, Slowly

The next morning, I didn’t wake up magically motivated. I was still tired. But I decided to start small.

Instead of forcing myself to study for hours, I told myself, “Just study for 30 minutes.”

Those 30 minutes turned into an hour, then two, then a full day.

The more I focused on small steps, the easier it became to move forward.

I also started journaling my progress. Each night, I’d write one line — something like “I tried today,” or “I didn’t give up.”

Those small victories built quiet confidence inside me.

And slowly, motivation came back — not as a rush of energy, but as a steady flame that kept burning.

The Lesson I Learned

That tough phase taught me something important: motivation doesn’t always scream; sometimes it whispers.

It’s not about constant excitement or endless energy. It’s about showing up when it’s hard. About remembering why you began in the first place.

There will always be times when quitting looks tempting — but that’s also when growth happens.

Every moment you push through, even when you don’t feel like it, you’re becoming stronger than you were yesterday.

What Keeps Me Going Now

Whenever I feel lost again — and trust me, it still happens — I pause and ask myself two questions:

1. Why did I start?

2. Who am I doing this for?

The answers always bring me back.

I think of the patients I’ll one day care for. The faces of my family, who believe in me. The younger version of myself, who once dreamed of wearing a white coat.

ÀThat’s my motivation — not perfection, not comparison — just purpose.

In the End

Finding motivation when you want to quit isn’t about being the strongest person in the room. It’s about being honest with yourself, feeling your doubts, and still choosing to try again.

Sometimes, all it takes is one message, one thought, or one quiet reminder that your dream still matters.

And if you’re reading this and thinking of giving up — don’t.

Rest if you need to, pause if you must, but don’t walk away from something your heart once prayed for.

Because one day, you’ll look back and realize that the hardest days were the ones that made you who you are.