Long considered the choice of losers and slackers, quitting can be one of the most empowering and active decisions that a person can make, says Evan Harris, author of The Art of Quitting . All things must come to an end, and by choosing when to quit a job, a relationship, a philosophy, or a bad habit, quitters direct their own destinies.

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In some ways, now is a better time than ever to quit. "If you've been at one company for too long, corporate America figures that you are a dud," says Barbara Sher, author of I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was. "Companies are not loyal to employees anymore. Nobody blames you anymore and asks why you didn't stick with things."

The midlife crisis and the approach to retirement have long been socially accepted times to reassess. But it's increasingly acceptable to search for purpose and satisfaction wherever you are in life.