Madam,

Life is challenging and it demands a lot from all of us. Being in a job or being unemployed is stressful. Being in a relationship or being single is stressful. Going on a groove with friends or staying indoors has its own worries too. Honestly, sometimes it is very hard to decide or not decide on everything. Making decisions is hard and I believe it is even harder to know for sure if the decisions we take or the things we decide to do are right. The situations we go through in our daily lives are most of the time difficult to overcome.

Someone close to me shared that she was mentally exhausted and was trying her best to cope with the situation. She was also wondering: How much is too much, and why is it that when one tries to be stronger, the easier or faster the breaking point? At that moment, I could not think of an immediate answer for her, but it got me thinking.

At first thought, this question, when is enough really enough, can apply to a range of situations such as in relationships, at the workplace or even trying to do something for yourself. The thought stayed with me: How does one know that enough is enough? When does one decide to ‘jump ship’, ‘cut losses’ or ‘walk away’ from a situation?

As I deliberated even further, some insights flooded my mind and I will just share them here with you. Of course, they are my perspectives and what works for some may not work for others. In context, it is a conversation from my heart to encourage the reader to see things in a positive light. So, here goes:

When a challenging situation buries you in confusion, hurt, pain and aimlessness, this is when ‘enough is still not enough’. For one thing, ‘calling it quits’ may not be the ‘better plan’ as it is likely that one has not really had the opportunity to think through a Plan B, C or D because of the overwhelming emotions.

Going through tough times such as unforeseen circumstances, unsuspecting illnesses, change of plans, change of heart or being with unreasonable people can really distract you from your goals. However, if one regards these experiences as ‘interruptions’ in life instead, perhaps the disappointments can be taken as opportunities to go through ‘reappointments’ in one’s life.

Consider: Will this situation continue to be helpful or meaningful to me in the future? How does being in the present situation drive me ahead? Will I ever do this again? Where is my heart in all this now? How will it help the people around me that I care about? If I did not do anything, what difference will that make in my life? What difference will that make in the lives of my loved ones?

So, when is enough really enough? I will say, it is deciding whether what you are currently going through is a ‘pinprick’ or something that affects the ‘big picture’. If the matter is recurring and cannot be changed or controlled, decide then whether it is something that you can live with, like a ‘splinter in the finger’, or will it get worse if you do not remove it or remove yourself from it? Try looking at things from a broader perspective.

Someone close to me shared that she was mentally exhausted and was trying her best to cope with the situation.