When life produces challenges (as we know it inevitably will), we have two choices: we can allow them to derail us and our journey, or we can hit them head on and accept them as part of the process. In simple terms, learn to “embrace the suck.”
Embracing the suck is a mindset of attacking challenges head on and looking at setbacks as opportunities to learn and advance instead of as mistakes or failures. Embracing the suck means approaching every challenge as a learning opportunity and appreciating what it has to teach us. Of course, this is easier said than done, but working to embrace the suck every day can lead to positive mental attitudes that promote consistent progress in achieving your goals.
How do you learn to embrace the suck? The first step is by accepting that life is going to be hard, mistakes are normal, and failures are normal, but it is how you deal with these challenges that can help build resilience, confidence, and growth. Some ways to learn to deal with adversity are creating small daily challenges for yourself. Set your alarm 5-10 minutes earlier than you normally wake up, start your day with a cold shower to wake you up, or don’t allow yourself to use your phone for the first 30 minutes of waking. Setting and accomplishing small challenges each day help you build confidence for bigger challenges down the road. Adding in meditation or breath work are also great ways to deal with the stress associated with life's challenges. These don’t have to be done daily, but implementing them a few times each week can help you start to stack up small wins and give yourself the opportunity to take on bigger challenges later.
Once you start practicing that mindset, it is time to pursue opportunities that get you out of your comfort zone. Actively getting outside of your comfort zone is an easy way to build the tools to take on challenges that come your way. An often heard phrase is, “getting comfortable being uncomfortable.” I would argue that being uncomfortable never truly becomes comfortable, but the more you do it, the more confidence you build around being uncomfortable. Being uncomfortable allows you to grow and learn in ways previously not possible because you are activating your ability to find a resolution. Getting comfortable being uncomfortable is also a method of improving physical fitness. Cold plunges, saunas, and intense training sessions are all uncomfortable experiences in the moment, but they yield health benefits if you can persevere through them. These types of training and recovery modalities can help you to learn how to use breath work to get through difficult situations in a controlled environment. They can also help your body learn to handle external stressors, thus teaching your body and mind how to handle internal stressors such as anxiety.
What can embracing the suck do for you? It can build confidence in your abilities. It can help you find that failure is not the end of the process, but an integral part of the process. Failure is often looked at with a negative connotation, realistically it should be looked at as an opportunity to learn and grow. If you can learn that failure helps growth, then the next time you fail you will be able to take a positive spin on the situation.
Overall embracing the suck is a mindset that if you can adopt it will help you continue to grow and experience new opportunities. It will slowly build you into someone who can handle difficult situations, someone who isn’t afraid to fail, and someone who is constantly challenging themselves to be better each and every day. With that I challenge you to embrace the suck, get outside your comfort zone, and take risks to realize your true potential. Life is too short to stay comfortable or stagnant, growth and adaptation are integral parts of developing into someone who can accomplish what may have seemed impossible at the start of your journey. Trust me, as someone who constantly embraces the suck, the long term outcomes are well worth the immediate challenges you may face. Do not shy away from the suck, confront it head on, challenge it and enjoy the outcomes whatever they may be!
Stay Well,
Mark Jesse Jr., MS, CSCS-RSCC, USAW-1