Sit with the shit? I hear you asking. Yuck. Firstly – why would I want to shit with shit? And secondly – that’s not exactly what I’d expect to hear from a life coach who’s all about playing, having fun, and being wild & free. But hear me out.
As a life coach, I believe in the power of dopamine release through play and fun activities. I encourage my clients to feel liberated, break through limiting societal obstacles, and to enjoy life. But sometimes, life throws us unexpected shit. We face disappointments, failures, and hardships. We mess up. Annoyingly, we realise life had a different plan for us than the fabulous one we had for ourselves. That is exactly when we need to sit with it and let it be what it is.
Sitting with the shit doesn’t mean dwelling on negative experiences or wallowing in self-pity. It means facing the discomfort head-on, feeling it fully, and learning from it. You need to choose your battles, and sometimes batting off poop is simply too messy. Much more messy than letting it be. On these occasions, practicing acceptance is the only way. Sitting with an unwanted situation might be uncomfortable, but it means giving ourselves permission to feel all the emotions that come with the tough experience. Although it might not be obvious in the moment, it’s an opportunity to grow.
Sitting With Shit & Embracing it When Life Simply Stinks
I know it can be tempting to try to quickly move on from a negative experience. To distract ourselves with fun activities and dopamine hits, and flush our troubles down the toilet. But the reality is that avoiding our negativity doesn’t make it disappear. In fact, it can lead to a cycle of numbing ourselves with temporary pleasures, without addressing the root cause of our discomfort.
That’s why acceptance is so important. It’s about being present with ourselves, even when it’s hard AF and all we want to do is escape. It’s about acknowledging that life is full of ups and downs, and that we can learn from all of it – the good, the bad, and the stinky.
So, the next time life throws you off track, don’t be afraid to sit with the shit. Embrace the discomfort, and use it as an opportunity to grow and become a stronger, more resilient version of yourself. Trust me, the dopamine hits will still be there when you’re ready to have fun again – but this time, you’ll be doing it from a place of greater, stench-free self awareness.
As Mark Manson so eloquently wrote in his book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive approach to Living a Good Life,
“Wanting a positive experience is a negative experience; accepting a negative experience is a positive experience.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself, so I may as well stop typing and go and get on with my other shit.
