We’ve all been there: knee-deep in a commitment we made in a moment of inspiration, only to wake up one day wondering why we signed up for this journey in the first place. Whether it’s committing to a year of self-improvement, pushing through a difficult project, or simply getting out of bed early for a workout, the grind gets real. This is where the phrase “embrace the suck” comes into play.
But why should we lean into the suck? Why not avoid it, minimize it, or simply find an easier way? The answer lies in a simple truth: growth happens in discomfort. Adopting the mentality to “embrace the suck” can actually be one of the most powerful tools you have in maintaining and keeping your commitments, and here’s why:
1. Discomfort is Proof That You’re Growing
The very nature of growth means stepping outside your comfort zone. When you’re experiencing discomfort or struggle, it’s a clear sign that you’re stretching beyond what’s easy and familiar. That’s a good thing! Without that stretch, we stay stagnant. The commitments we make, whether to ourselves or others, aren’t supposed to be easy. If they were, they wouldn’t be transformative.
When you embrace the suck, you’re acknowledging that discomfort is part of the process and a sign you’re on the right path. It’s not a signal to stop; it’s a signal to dig in. The very act of sticking with your commitment through hard times creates resilience—and resilience is what keeps you in the game long after others have given up.
2. It Teaches Discipline, Not Just Motivation
Motivation is fleeting. It’s there at the start, pushing us with a surge of energy, but what happens when it fades? That’s when discipline takes over. “Embrace the suck” is a mindset that transforms fleeting motivation into long-lasting discipline.
When the initial excitement of your commitment wears off, and it will, the suck is what will greet you. This is where you get to choose: give in to the discomfort or embrace it and push forward. Every time you choose to push forward, you’re building discipline. You’re proving to yourself that you don’t need to feel good about something to do it—you just need to do it because it’s part of the bigger goal you committed to.
3. It Shifts Your Focus From Feelings to Action
The problem many of us face when trying to keep commitments is that we get too caught up in how we feel about doing something. “I don’t feel like doing this today” or “I’m just not in the mood” are common refrains when the going gets tough. But guess what? Feelings are fickle. They fluctuate with the weather, our mood, and what side of the bed we woke up on.
Embracing the suck shifts the focus from how you feel in the moment to what needs to be done. It becomes less about whether you feel like sticking to your commitment and more about the action itself. You do it because it’s necessary. You do it because it aligns with the bigger goal, not because it’s comfortable in the moment.
4. It Builds Confidence in Your Ability to Handle Hard Things
When you push through discomfort, something amazing happens: you realize just how much you’re capable of. What once seemed insurmountable starts to feel manageable. The more you embrace the suck, the more you trust in your ability to handle whatever comes your way. This builds an internal confidence that strengthens your resolve in future commitments.
Every time you push through a tough day, a challenging task, or a moment when you’d rather quit, you’re building evidence that you can survive and thrive in discomfort. And that confidence feeds back into your commitment, making it easier to keep going.
5. It Connects You to the Bigger Purpose
Let’s face it: not every moment of a commitment is going to feel significant or life-changing. Some days will feel like a grind, and that’s okay. When you embrace the suck, you’re reminded that these tough moments are not the endgame—they’re a part of the journey towards something much bigger.
The key to maintaining your commitment is not focusing on the struggle but on the larger purpose behind it. When you lean into discomfort, you’re actively choosing to focus on the long-term benefits rather than the short-term pain. This mentality helps you keep your eyes on the prize, allowing you to endure the hard times because you know they’re leading you somewhere meaningful.
Embracing the Suck as a Tool for Transformation
In the end, embracing the suck isn’t just about pushing through the hard stuff; it’s about transforming how you approach your commitments. It’s a mental shift that says, “I acknowledge that this is tough, but I’m tougher.” It’s about welcoming discomfort as a necessary step toward the goals and growth you’re striving for.
Remember: anyone can commit to something when it’s easy. It’s the ones who stick with it when it’s hard—when they’re knee-deep in the suck—that come out stronger, more disciplined, and more successful on the other side. So, next time you find yourself facing a tough day, a frustrating task, or that all-too-familiar voice urging you to quit, lean into the discomfort, smile, and tell yourself: “This is the suck—and I’m here for it.”
Embrace it. It’s shaping you into the person you’re committed to becoming.
I’ve downloaded a number of episodes from the KEXP Runcast podcasts to walk/run to. I’ve heard the phrase ‘the first mile is a liar’ a few times. I think that sentiment plays well into embrace the suck philosophy. The don’t give in and don’t listen to the voice in your head that just wants to make you not do the thing that sucks. But here’s a news flash, once you do it, you realize that all that negative thoughts you had were wrong!
I listened to a few episodes – great!