I was thinking about…

Why We Need to “Embrace the Suck”

By Andy Lee

If you spend any amount of time with military or ex-military you will most definitely hear the expression “embrace the suck.” No, it’s not about reveling in misery for misery’s sake. The intent behind this phrase packs a deep and hard earned wisdom about resilience that we could all benefit from.

Basically, embracing the suck means leaning into difficult situations with the mindset that challenges ultimately make us stronger. Instead of avoiding the hard times, face them head on – recognizing sucky experiences as oxygen for personal growth.

Believe me I know that when you’re deep in the trenches dealing with setbacks, loss, or just a ton of soul-crushing stuff in life, positivity about “lessons” feels somewhat laughable. I’ve been there cursing under my breath that certain sucky moments seem useless beyond sheer cosmic cruelty.

But the truth is, we don’t grow from the easy wins or sunshine-filled seasons of life. Real growth, the kind forging unshakable perseverance, germinates from situational manure. Those periods of persevering through difficulties that tempt us to quit altogether – that’s where our mettle gets tested and upgraded to face whatever comes next.

So instead of wishing intensely sucky times away or letting them derail forward momentum, why not embrace them? Push into the murky realms stretching us because that’s exactly where the Magic 8 Ball’s “outlook good” awaits. Uncomfortable situations offer prime training for sharpening skills like patience, perspective, problem-solving, and discovering our own inner fierceness when chips are down.

For instance, when I was feverishly juggling two jobs alongside night classes just to stay afloat financially, it suuuuucked. I spent nights wondering how many hours of sleep constituted just giving up on being human. But I persisted because embracing that grind taught priceless time management talents. If I could handle getting Bs & a couple of As while perpetually exhausted then, no workload intimidates me now.

Or when an acquaintance had a stretch of getting turned down for role after role while pursuing standup comedy dreams. Brutal suck fest! Yet enduring those indignities toughened his skin to ignore hecklers while mastering comedic timing. Persevering through those sucky years imparted skills helping him connect with audiences today as a motivational speaker.

Truly, getting comfortable being uncomfortable positions us to meet any challenge head on because we’ve conquered them before. Sucking it up during rough patches builds stamina and wisdom that good times alone could never provide. Embrace the discomfort while it lasts because pushing through opens doors that ease and comfort cannot.

Of course, I’m not suggesting we masochistically seek out suffering. Even without going looking, life will serve up plenty of suck on its own. The key lies in our mindset towards adversity: fight or flight, problem or opportunity? Because those gut-wrenching lows planting doubts tend to precede elevating comebacks. As with strength training, break down then growth.

Plus, enduring suck builds appreciation for life’s joyful interludes in ways eternally coasting cannot. My friend, having dwelled in life’s darkest valleys shines blinding light on each present smile not taken for granted. Looking back, I see that every sucky situation was temporary – yet lessons absorbed during perseverance pay permanent dividends moving forward.

In fact, seen through spiritual lenses, could these refinement trials serve some greater purpose? Cycling through wilderness seasons strips away superficial wants, revealing what our souls truly crave. Overcoming difficulty toward a mission pushes us closer to our God-given purposes. The “cosmic suck” tests faith, deepening resolve.

Stay determined, keep perspectiving! 💪🕊️