It’s Easy to Quit — But Staying Committed? That’s What Makes You Cool

At some point in life, we all find ourselves at a crossroads—one path offering the quick relief of letting go, the other asking us to grit our teeth and stay the course. In a viral talk titled “Quitting Is Easy, But Sticking With It Is Cool,” Chinese content creator Orange Writing unpacks this very dilemma. In an age where short videos have shortened our attention spans and “quiet quitting” has become a social media mantra, staying committed has become a radical act. But maybe it’s time to reframe what commitment really means—not as a form of self-punishment, but as a courageous, creative choice to invest in ourselves.

I. Redefining Persistence in the Age of Instant Gratification

We’re living in the most convenient era in human history: 30 minutes to learn a recipe, one hour to master an app, 24 hours to tour a city. This "instant feedback loop" has rewired how we value effort—so much so that giving up feels not only acceptable but wise. After all, if something doesn’t “work” in three weeks, isn’t cutting your losses the smart move?

But true growth often hides in the messy, awkward middle—the part we’re tempted to skip.

Psychologists call this the “flywheel effect”: the hardest part is getting the wheel moving. But once it gains momentum, its own weight keeps it spinning. That awkward stage—fumbling through your first coding lesson, rewriting your résumé for the fifth time, practicing awkward elevator pitches—isn’t wasted time. It’s compound interest in disguise.

When we stop seeing persistence as a punishment and start treating it like fuel for habit-building, everything shifts. What once felt like drudgery becomes something closer to devotion.

II. The Quiet Power Behind “Cool” Commitments

In her talk, Orange Writing highlights a line from novelist Haruki Murakami, who famously gets up at 5 a.m. every day to write. “Once you cross the threshold,” he says, “discipline becomes instinct.” His words remind me of my friend Xiao Yu, a café owner who—during a six-month dry spell when she couldn’t pay salaries—showed up early each morning just to polish her espresso machine. It became a ritual, a way of reminding herself why she started.

These aren’t flashy stories of overnight success. They’re stories of quiet perseverance—the kind that holds steady even when the world isn’t watching.

Neuroscience backs this up: our brains are wired to reward progress over perfection. When we attach meaning to our habits—“I memorize 10 vocabulary words a day so I can read my favorite author in French,” or “I run three times a week to keep up with my kids”—persistence transforms into purpose. It’s no longer a grind; it becomes a conversation between who you are and who you’re becoming.

III. Real Strength Is a Promise You Keep to Yourself

Here’s the most powerful line from that speech: “Quitting is temporary relief; persistence is long-term fulfillment.”

What makes someone truly cool isn't rebellion or trendiness—it’s honoring the private contracts they’ve signed with themselves. The person who has documented their life in journals for a decade. The one who, during unemployment, still takes online courses every day. These aren’t “productive” in the way social media metrics measure success—but they are profound declarations of self-trust.

You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Start with what Orange Writing calls the “smallest unit of persistence”: 10 minutes of reading, one journal entry a week, a short solo trip each month. String those moments together and you’ll build something unshakably yours. And allow yourself grace in the process. Even Murakami shortens his runs when he’s not feeling well—but he never stops running.

Consistency isn’t rigidity. It’s rhythm. It’s resilience.

So the next time you’re tempted to give up, pause and ask: Will this choice move me closer to the person I want to be? If the answer is yes—even quietly, even imperfectly—then keep going. You’re not in a race. You’re writing your own coming-of-age story, one paragraph at a time.

The most extraordinary lives aren’t lived by those who never falter—they’re lived by those who choose, again and again, to show up. Not because it’s easy. But because it matters.

That kind of persistence? That’s what’s really cool.