My "Oh Sh*t" Moment

We've all had those moments where everything seems to fall apart at the worst possible time. Mine happened at 3 AM in a car with my stepdad, 10 minutes from the airport, when my stomach decided to stage a full-scale rebellion.

There I was, sweating, panicking, and praying for a miracle as I clenched every muscle in my body. When we finally reached the airport and faced a massive line to enter the terminal, I spotted salvation through a window—a bathroom in another terminal. Without thinking twice, I jumped out of the car, leaped over a barrier, and sprinted toward relief, leaving all my luggage behind.

Was it embarrassing? Absolutely. But this chaotic moment reminded me of something I learned after tearing my ACL on American Ninja Warrior: life's "shit moments" (sometimes literally) are inevitable, but they're also where we grow the most.

That's why I created the R.I.G.H.T framework:

R - Recognize and Feel: Give yourself permission to feel whatever emotions arise without judgment. Have your five-minute pity party if needed.

I - Identify what you can control: At the airport, I couldn't control my stomach, but I could find a solution. When I tore my ACL, I couldn't undo the injury, but I could control my recovery.

G - Generate a plan: You don't need the perfect plan—just the next step. For me, it was finding a bathroom first, then figuring out how to reunite with my stepdad and luggage.

H - Hold onto your why: During ACL rehab, my "why" was returning to Ninja Warrior. At the airport, it was simply getting home to my dog, Pepper.

T - Take action and trust the process: Sometimes progress feels slow, but each small step matters. Trust in your preparation and celebrate every win, no matter how small.

Whether you're facing a professional setback, struggling as a busy parent, or dealing with an embarrassing bathroom emergency, this framework can help you navigate those moments with resilience and purpose.

Remember to ask yourself: "What if it all goes right?" Because sometimes, our biggest breakthroughs come from our messiest moments.

What's a "shit moment" you've experienced that ultimately led to growth? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments!