Don't Keep Digging Just Because You Already Dug the Hole
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howtolive.guide
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You stayed in the bad job for three years, so leaving now would "waste" those years. You ate half the terrible meal, so you might as well finish it. You have been in the relationship for a decade, so you cannot quit now. This is the sunk cost fallacy — the instinct to keep investing in something because you have already invested, not because it still makes sense.
The time, money, or effort you already spent is gone regardless of what you do next. The only question that matters is: "Knowing what I know now, would I start this again from scratch?" If the answer is no, walk away. The past investment is not a reason — it is an anchor.
The point
Past investment should not dictate future decisions — ask whether you would start the same thing today.
Living experience
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Stayed in a degree program I hated for 3 years because "I already invested so much." When I finally switched, those 3 years weren't wasted — but the 4th would have been. The best time to quit the wrong path is now.
This applies to relationships too. "But we've been together for 5 years" is not a reason to stay in a bad relationship.