Find Your SUCKcess in Challenges

Sometimes you do everything right and things just SUCK. We try our best and things just don't go the way we want them to. What you make that mean is up to you!

You could wallow in the misery of the “suck” and spiral into a negative black hole. Or you could recognize that it’s part of life and the human experience. Feel all the feels but don’t indulge in them. It doesn’t serve you.

You can also turn the inevitable “sucks" in life into a gift or opportunity. What Head Nike Running Coach Bennett calls SUCKCESS. 🤣

How?

First, take some time to calm your nervous system in a healthy, natural way. 

It may be on high alert because of the challenges you faced and doesn’t feel safe. No amount of rational thinking will help you solve your problem until your nervous system feels safe again.

Sometimes you don’t even know your nervous system is on alert because it is just constantly on due to every day stressors of modern life. But if you are feeling stuck, anxious or stressed, there is a good chance it's activated.

There are many ways to calm the nervous system. Tapping into your breath can be a wonderful and nurturing place to start. It can be as simple as taking slow deep breaths through your nose until you feel better.

If using the breath isn’t your thing, try using tactile exercises like rubbing your fingertips together and noticing all the sensations or auditory sounds like listening to music. Movement like yoga, running or hiking in nature are also a great ways to calm your nervous system. 

Experiment and see what works best for you. The key is to find something that helps you get out of your head and into your body where you have more access to your innate sage powers like empathy, curiosity and innovation that will help you make better decisions. 

Second, search for the lesson in the “suck.” 

What lesson can it teach you that will make it easier next time and propel you even further?

What inspiration can you draw from the "suck" experience that will inspire you to keep going?

There is wisdom to be found in almost every experience. 

Sometimes it helps to broaden the way you measure success.

In fact, measuring success in as many ways as you can, especially when you don’t feel so great, is a game changer.

Success doesn’t have to mean a beautifully finished product or project. It can be the fact that you started your project…that you showed up every day and kept trying...that you tried, failed and learned from it… that you sustained your hope during the “suck”… 

Consider measuring success as every step you take along your journey. It is so much more fun and rewarding that way.

I invite you to take some time to rewrite those “suck" stories that are weighing you down. This isn’t about sugarcoating…it’s about finding your weaknesses, so you can work on them... finding your strengths where you only saw weakness...finding something to celebrate where you only saw something to criticize. 

So get back into the game with your SUCKCESS and celebrate yourself.

Warmly,
Melody

P.S. If you want to learn and practice how to find the gift and opportunity in life's challenges, check out my upcoming "From Stress to Success: Mental Fitness Program" starting September 28th (option to do the program with just me on your own schedule as well). It will help you create more calm, ease and happiness in your life. Click the blue button below for details.