Sunk cost fallacy describes the tendency to want to follow through with an endeavor because of the time or money already invested.

This fallacy has entrapped me in a couple of past club/volunteer/work positions.

Whenever I had the urge to quit, I would convince myself that:

1. I have already invested so much time in this endeavor. To quit is a waste of all the time and effort I put in.
2. If I stayed long enough, I might be able to take on a senior position.
3. I'm not a quitter. I shouldn't quit when things get tough.
4. It's too late to start over at another organization since I would be behind all my peers.
5. Maybe today was just a bad day. Maybe it will get better with time?

Oh Laurie...

Each of those considerations is important when deciding whether or not to abandon an endeavor. Perhaps if I did stay on with that club or with that team, I would have taken on a senior position by now. However, I would have been deeply unhappy throughout the journey.

I was invalidating my own feelings because I was afraid of change, taking risks, and losing what I had worked so hard for.

Change is always scary. Yet, every single time I took a leap of faith, the grass has been greener on the other side.

If you find the sunk cost fallacy is also affecting your current decision-making, this is your sign to make the change. You deserve to participate in activities that fulfill you. You deserve to be excited about the work you are doing.