I don’t quit.
Ever.
I stick with things long after others have given up. My StrengthsFinder assessment says one of my top strengths is Responsibility, which means I take psychological ownership for anything I commit to, and feel emotionally bound to follow it through to completion. I’ve been called “Wonder Woman” (and have the picture to prove it) because people know I will figure out whatever needs to be figured, do whatever needs to be done and finish no matter what it takes. (Yes, that may sound like a not-so-#HumbleBrag, but hang with me … there’s a point here.)
I’ve been excited to read 5 Habits of a Woman Who Doesn’t Quit by Nicki Koziarz for a long time. I first heard Nicki speak on this topic at a retreat a couple of years ago and it was at that retreat where God crystallized the dream for Do A New Thing. So the message is near and dear to my heart.
It’s a book I could read and enjoy without worrying about God stepping on my toes, because, you know … I don’t quit.
Or so I thought until I was confronted with my own Quitzilla.
Nicki describes Quitzilla as that woman who is “furious, fed up and quick to walk away.” That doesn’t sound like my outsides, but when I hit Chapter 6, I found my insides described on the page.
The Quiet Quitter. Yep, that’s me.
It’s this quiet place where she starts to step back and draw lines of division in her heart. She slowly cuts herself out of plans, projects and people. – Nicki Koziarz
My insides quit on projects while my outsides complete all my assigned tasks.
My insides quit on my church while my outsides show up in the pew every Sunday.
My insides quit on healthy eating while my outsides trained for a half-marathon.
My insides quit on relationships while my outsides continue to do what is expected.
My Quitzilla quits caring, quits believing the best, quits feeling committed all while Wonder Woman takes care of everything.
So what’s the big deal? If I’m keeping all of my commitments, what does it matter if I’m not quite feeling it on the inside?
Because quitting on the inside will eventually lead to quitting on the outside, bringing with it bitter feelings and broken relationships.
Tweet ThisWhat’s a girl to do when her Quitzilla has her heart but her Wonder Woman won’t let go?
1. Pray about the assignment
1. Pray about the assignmentIn Habit 1, Nicki challenges us to accept the assignment of refinement. If this is truly our assignment, we need to accept what God wants to do in us through it.
If it isn’t, sometimes it is just time to move on, and there is a right and a wrong way to quit. Complete all your assignments. Leave things in good shape for whoever takes your place. Better yet, find and train your replacement before you quit.
2. Look for the bitter roots
Is there something about this assignment that is just getting under your skin? Maybe a relationship involved that is irritating? Wonder Woman tends to ignore these things and muscle through, rather than call them into the light and deal with them.
3. Recall why you committed in the first place
Remember the excitement, the plans, the fresh ideas you had at the start? At one time, there was a passion for the project, but the daily grind has worn away the shine. Things won’t always be fun, but reconnecting with some of those early motivations can quiet Quitzilla when she starts to rumble.
I am starting something new this week that will challenge me in an area where I have quit on the inside. And to be honest, I am scared to death. I’ve grown comfortable with this line of division in my heart between my insides and my outsides. I have a feeling it is about to be shaken up.
But I want to be a woman who doesn’t quit. On the inside or the outside. Wonder Woman may win out over Quitzilla, but God’s Woman beats them both.
RESOURCES
Hang out with me, Nicki and 25,000+ others as we study 5 Habits of a Woman Who Doesn’t Quit with Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Studies. Sign up here and purchase the book here or wherever books are sold.
Join the Do A New Thing newsletter and let’s beat Quitzilla together!
RESPOND
Is God calling you to make your insides match your outsides? Share about your own Quitzilla vs. Wonder Woman battle and I’ll give away a copy of 5 Habits of a Woman Who Doesn’t Quit to someone who comments this week!
Linking up with Kelly Balarie at #RaRaLinkup, Holley Gerth at #CoffeeForYourHeart, Susan Mead at #DanceWithJesus, Dawn Klinge at #GraceandTruth and Crystal Storms at #IntentionalTuesday
29 thoughts on “When Quitzilla Meets Wonder Woman”
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Great post and review. I’m reading Nicky’s book too right now. It’s amazing! Blessings
Thanks, Tayrina. Glad you are enjoying the book!
I haven’t gotten to the insides v. Outsides yet, but, OH, am I a guarded person. Like it’s a thing. you know? I mean I can fake it and pretend for a while, but inside is a bloody, bitter mess. HELP. ME. LORD.
You are calling on the right Name, Jodi. That is the only place the help will come from. You can do it, friend!
This book sounds perfect! Quitzilla has a running conversation going on in my head. I feel called to step forward to speak, mentor, and facilitate, yet my insides are in an epic battle most of the time. Yes/No. Let’s do this/Lets not! This will be great/ This is way harder than I thought. God is with me!/Did God call me?
I need to get a copy of this book.
Ummm …. let me answer those questions for you … Yes/Let’s do this/This will be great/God is with you!
Ouch. You got me! I felt called to write a book (or two) over ten – yes, TEN – years ago, but quit on it because circumstances required me to focus on making income and focusing on my family situation. Recently, however, my circumstances have changed and I have time to work on a book, and can afford to do so. Nevertheless, it stays on the back burner, and I find a million reasons to focus on other writing projects. Someone actually called me on the carpet the other day, though, and asked where he could buy my book. Oh my, was that a wake-up call! I think I need to put Quitzilla in her place! Thanks for a really great post that I needed to hear today!
There ya go, Linda! Quitzilla doesn’t have to win!
To say that I would like a copy of this book is an understatement. I am usually befuddled with fatigue, depression and the like and have trouble mustering the mental fortitude to finish my assignments. I am the ‘almost-finisher’ of things. I can jump into almost anything with fire and true determination, but three quarters of the way through that resolve becomes hopelessness and an almost desperate desire to do almost anything else than finish. Please help!
Oh dear! That sounds tough, Rosa. I hope you’ll be able to participate in the study and put your Quitzilla in her place!
lol Christa, I love “Quitzilla”. And I love what you have shared. You are an amazing woman and if you are a Quitzilla there is no word that can describe me. HA!!! Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I enjoyed reading your post.
P.S. Please do not consider me in the running for a free book. I got a book already.
Hugs sister,
Donna
Appreciate you, Donna! Thanks so much for stopping by!
LOVE THIS POST… Thanks for sharing Christa. So excited to dig into this book and OBS.
It is going to be a GREAT study! Thanks for all you do, Sarah 🙂
Yes, often I plow through things with a head down, get it done mentality. It’s good to reflect and review the why bring our actions at times. I too strive to be God’s woman over all. Thanks for the reminders Christa and blessings on your new challenge!
Thanks, Jill. I’ve taken the first big step towards that challenge today and feeling better about it!
Morning Wonder Woman!
What a thought provoking post. I love what you’ve shared here! (And I love the name of your post.) I’ve learned over the years that I’m a quitter. I don’t have the iron clad determination not to walk away from things like you – so now I’ll have to focus on not quitting on the outside and on the inside. Wow! I’ve got a lot to work on. :o)
Thanks for sharing and linking up with Holly over at Coffee for your Heart.
Have a blessed week!
Tiffiney
Sometimes iron-clad determination is not all it’s cracked up to be! It can leave me exhausted and empty. We’ll all keep working on finding the right balance!
You…HIT…the…NAIL….on….the….HEAD! Thank you for this. I have read Nicki’s book and am already signed up for the Bible Study. I loved, loved, loved it. But I never quit at anything. On the outside that is. I quit all the time on the inside. Thank you for shedding light on this important truth that I somehow missed. Bless you, Lady!
Oh Sarah … for us responsibility types, it is so easy to think we aren’t quitting! But examining our hearts often reveals that we’ve quit in our hearts on things that really matter. Enjoy the study!
Incredibly insightful!
I can see how quitting on the inside could lead to a root of bitterness.
Thanks for sharing this resource.
Wow Christa…thank you for sharing about Quitzilla. That sounds like quite a book! i am going to make a point to guard my “inside and prevent the internal quitting. I love the way the book highlights how destructive that can be. I want to stay committed to whatever God asks and trust him to provide all the power I need. Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful weekend and blessings to you and yours!
Thanks Horace! I love it when you stop by!
This is a really great post. And I’m a “Responsibility” too! A bitter-sweet strength! 🙂 Thank-you for sharing. I need to take some more time to think about all of this. (Found you at Grace & Truth)
Hello, my fellow “Responsibility”! I agree … it can be a bitter-sweet strength. It has the capability to overwhelm me, but it blesses others.
Yep, I can relate. Sometimes I go through the motions on the outside but on the inside, my heart is singing a different tune. This is so convicting but encouraging at the same time because it doesn’t have to be this way.
Thanks for sharing, I’m pinning this right now!
Thank you, Marva! I’m glad that you saw the encouragement in it!
Great post and sounds like an insightful, challenging book! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Holley! I am so glad you stopped by 🙂