How to Thank a Motherfucker When Shit Goes South

So as often happens in life, shit will get in the way of what you want. We all know it happens at the worst moments also. Maybe life kicked you in the gonads and is about to punt you in the face a la Randy Orton. And that’s without you getting a chance to brace for impact.

But why? It really doesn’t matter.

According to Rafiki, the shaman baboon from the Lion King, “The past can hurt. But from the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it.”

If you’re an entrepreneur and you got fucked by the entrepreneur game, you no doubt have to lean into gratitude to get past any failure that leads you to a breakthrough. Throwing a pity party won’t get you there.

If you are going through a break-up and the world needs to burn, it will be okay once you find your next partner that will be there for you. You just have to let the waters of time extinguish your flames of hurt. Bitterness won’t bring about that new partner until you abandon it for gratitude.

If you are an athlete that suffered a career-ending injury, gratitude will open doors for you in whichever career you go into after your sport says you’re done (look up Eric LeGrand on instagram and look at his posts).

If you are an addict that hits rock bottom and you get your shit together, leaning into gratitude is your doorway to the new life you have after addiction.

I could go on, but I’ll stop there. You get where I’m going with it.

How to get to resilience

Discomfort can always be a teacher. David Goggins has made a notable life by preaching it, and by living it. The cold shower/tub craze? It works. Doing two hours of cardio in the morning sucks ass, but if and when you do, one thing you will not say is “that was a bunch of horseshit.”

When life kicks us in the gonads and punts us in the face and gives us a dose of Mt. Everest-size discomfort, what happens after we tap into gratitude? Easy. You become resilient.

Resilience lies on the other side of gratitude. Leaning into resilience when shit goes south is like getting your second wind. Sometimes, it definitely feels like it’s easier said than done. But nothing is stopping you from charging the storm. Even if it looks grim, you must charge the storm. You know why? Because your biggest fans are watching. Even if you can’t win (such as with terminal diseases), you mustn’t ever stop the fight. Even if it costs you your last breath, then make it known that you are going out a fighter. Dismal, I know, but what other choice is there?

Terminal illnesses are of course the worst case scenario. But chances are - you are not dealing with that, but yet other shit may have you weighed down. Whatever your rock bottom is, you can use that as your own uncomfortable launching pad.

Resilience ain’t pretty

Resilience isn’t about having your shit together. It’s about your shit being everywhere and still knowing you can build something with it. If you deploy stubbornness and say “I’m not going down like that!” and develop a plan to give life the finger, you will win. No matter the adversity. And even if it’s a situation with a terminal disease, you can still give the finger and even have fun doing it. Look up Brooke Eby on instagram and see how she’s taking the fight to ALS.

The Motherfucker is YOU

Be too damn stubborn to let that be how you’re going out.

Be the awkward comeback.

Be the Leroy Jenkins to what has you fucked (google who Leroy Jenkins is and why it matters).

Be the spite-fueled success story.

Be the hot mess that keeps showing up no matter what.

Be the motherfucker that you thank.