Calm in the Chaos - Tips for a Better Life
"Suck It Up, Buttercup"?
by Jamie Spannhake
February 07, 2021
When faced with things I don't want to do but need to do, or must do, I often turn to the phrase "suck it up, buttercup." It makes me laugh, but it also makes clear that I just have to do it, even if I don't really want to do it.
If you are anything like me, that may be your method for ensuring you do the things that you don't really want to do but must: Just power through. Just do it. Stop complaining about it. The sooner we start, the sooner we can be finished. Suck it up.
But there is a different way, perhaps a better way.
This way of addressing undesirable responsibilities is part of the "Three B's" that I discuss in my book. I learned it from life coach Tal Fagin, who learned it from Martha Beck, a life coach trainer.
It's called "bettering it."
My 10-year-old daughter is adept at this method. She is not so great at sucking it up, though we have discussed that sometimes that may be necessary. I mean, life is not always fun, right?
Sarah bettered her school work last week. When it snowed on Monday, she had a snow day, but now that COVID has prepared the school for distance learning, the snow day was not a day without school. (Will they ever have real snow days again?!)
She didn't want to have school, but she had scheduled zoom meetings and assignments that had to be turned in via Google Classrom. Her solution?
Build a fort and have school in her fort! She bettered it for herself.
It was cozy. Her laptop, her workbooks, her tea, a light, her pencil bag with supplies, her binder, and the cat's bed. Everything she needs to enjoy school at home, just enough to make it do-able.
When you are faced with undesirable tasks, you can just "suck it up," but you can also try to better it. Both ways end in completing the task, but "bettering it" makes it more enjoyable. Give it a try!
Let's Connect!
I want to hear how you handle your competing obligations, especially the undesirable tasks, and where you could use support! Email me or schedule a 30 minute call if you'd like a cheerleader, accountability partner, and guide to help you on the way.
I coach busy professionals so they can achieve more while doing less; so they can create the lives they truly want, lives that include time and space to work the way they want, to spend time with their kids, to laugh with friends, and to exercise every day: Time and space to do all the things I was told I couldn’t do as a successful lawyer. My work with clients is based upon the principles in my book, The Lawyer, the Lion, & the Laundry: Three Hours to Finding Your Calm in the Chaos, available at www.JamieSpannhake.com. Learn more about how I can help you, and apply for my coaching program here.
0 comments