Don't give up?

Not an amazing article, but short enough to be worth recommending:

There’s actually a good name for this in the realm of psychology. It’s called “goal disengagement,” and it’s actually a good thing when you get older. A 2011 study on the topic ... found that a willingness to give up goals that were no longer attainable actually helped decrease depression in the elderly. 

http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-art-of-quitting

It doesn't necessarily support the point made in my previous post but provides incentive and a rational explanation for not persevering beyond the point of failure.