When Sunk Costs Hold You Back

Think about a time when you poured months into a project, tried learning a new skill, or kept going through a book that dragged on. At some point you realized it was not worth it, yet you told yourself you could not stop because you had already invested so much.

That is the sunk cost fallacy at work. It is the habit of continuing to spend time, money, or effort on something even when it no longer benefits us. We cling to it because quitting feels like admitting failure or wasting what we already spent. The truth is that those past costs are gone, and what matters most is the future value we can still create.

A better way forward is to approach choices as though you are starting fresh today. Ask yourself whether you would commit to this path if you were making the decision right now. You can also use reflective questions and tools like this articles or listen to this podcast to make letting go feel easier. By focusing on the road ahead rather than the resources already spent, we free ourselves to choose better opportunities.