Embrace the suck.
Today a good friend of mine called me to ask “Where are the blogs at?!”
I went on to list a few reasons I haven’t written. The underlying reason for my silence has all pointed back to some form of fear.
My close friends and family know the specifics of why I haven’t been posting as often as I normally would. I’m in a position where I have to temporarily filter what I am writing about and anyone that knows me, knows that I don’t operate well when I’m not able to speak from an unadulterated space.
However, Darryl’s call quickly reminded me that I still have a job to do. I have beautiful people in my life that still want to hear what I have to say. I have met amazing humans through this platform that have personally messaged me in relation to a post I’ve published.
So let’s get to it….
The last few months have SUCKED. It feels like I’ve been wading in choppy waters and every time I come up for a big breath, I get smacked in the face with another tidal wave and pushed back further to the shore. My eyes burning, salt-filled mouth, tired limbs, and utter hyperventilation - I’m still wading.
It just be like that sometimes.
As of late, my life has been a series of tough seasons and quite honestly I’d like a little break. (Don’t we all) But that right there is the problem, I’ve been resisting on all fronts. After the wave topples me over, I reluctantly stand on my feet in fear of the next wave that’s coming. Rather than flipping over to my back in between troughs, to take a rest, I’ve been standing back up and getting knocked back down to where I started.
It’s funny how we do that right? We are all resisting something. Whether it’s the new process at work, the oppositional stance our kids take, all the way down to refusing to let the car in the turn lane cut over to Target when we are at a red light - we all have moments in which we refuse to submit to the process.
I’m extremely guilty of yearning for “brighter days” and missing out on the glory in the struggle.
One of our colorful military branches first coined the phrase “Embrace the suck”. This ideology was both an order and wise advice for servicemen training, planning, and ultimately facing unimaginable horrors on the battlefield. The concept is not limited to acceptance but expands on the idea of doing it with grace. The originators of this catchy directive recommend we confront current discomfort for future success.
The more I try to rationalize and/or avoid unpleasantry, the louder discontentment screams.
I was listening to David Goggins on JRE and I remember him describing how he mentally takes himself all the way to the most adverse situation and walks himself through it. What does the worst situation look like? What are you most afraid of? How will you embrace the suck?
Imagine if we mentally practiced walking through our worst days instead of trying to conjure up ways around them once they show up.
There is mental fortitude found at the end of suiting up and showing up, even when we don’t want to. There is reprieve found in accepting each moment exactly as it is. There is gratitude to be found in the midst of your suck.
I don’t know what life looks like for you today, but I encourage you to lean into your discomfort, pain, and unavoidable circumstances.
Embrace the suck because it’s not going anywhere until you do.
Ps. Shoutout to Darryl for reaching out and pushing me to write today, grateful for you my dude.