"Existing beyond your narrative" is a concept I've come back to often. What is it? Well, imagine a TV series that you loved. Season one was exhilarating. Everything was fresh. In season two some new characters came in and changed the dynamics. The familiarity you had, allowed the writers to dance with your expectations. In season three things reached a climax. Character arcs came to their devastating or satisfying ends. Your investment in these characters and the broader world they existed in had paid off.
The non-rational escalation of commitment. Nowadays my motto is if I'm not having fun or it feels like too much hard work, move on.