"Have you ever heard yourself saying I'm going to do this if it kills me? As the pensioners at my gym can attest, it's what I hiss every time I'm there, attempting slowly and laboriously to get myself a millimetre closer to doing the splits. But what if it actually is killing me? Not the groin strain, problematic as that is, but because I've just read in New Scientist that giving up is good for you, while grinding on isn't."
"One study showed that people who struggled to disengage from unfulfilling goals had higher levels of cortisol and inflammatory molecules. The result, the article explained, could be a heightened susceptibility to all kinds of conditions, including cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's. In addition, goal disengagement giving up correlated with a lower risk of headaches, constipation and eczema; it may even protect against infection."
Difficulty disengaging from unfulfilling goals associates with higher cortisol and inflammatory molecules, potentially increasing susceptibility to cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's and other conditions. Goal disengagement correlates with lower risk of headaches, constipation and eczema and may protect against infection; older adults who more easily stopped fixating on unfulfilling goals reported fewer colds. Cultural norms valorise perseverance, grit and persistence through adversity, reinforced by influencers, motivational quotes and training programmes. Persistent striving can lead to failure despite effort, and emotionally healthy responses include recognising unfulfilling pursuits and pivoting to more attainable or meaningful goals.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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