Short motivational YouTube segment by Brian Johnson (Heroic +1) where he introduces mental toughness coach Brian Cain, recounts an anecdote about a UFC fighter who smiled when hit, and connects it to Epictetus and a practice: when you are metaphorically 'punched in the face', try flipping the switch and smiling as a way to respond with resilience.
Chapters
Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another heroic plus one. Brian Cain is one of the world's greatest mental toughness coaches. His client list includes four Major League Baseball Cy Young Award winners, eight UFC World champion, mixed martial artists, World Series and Super bowl champions and MVPs, Olympic medalists, and countless other elite athletes and coaches. He's also a friend and a longtime.
Student of mine who has his clients.
Read Philosopher's Notes to go to the.
Next level Kaner high fives.
Now, we're going to be talking about.
Him and his wisdom more in the.
Weeks and months ahead.
Philosopher's note on his book the 10.
Pillars of Mental Performance Mastery coming soon. Today I want to chat about one of his clients. Quick context. Brian recently visited me and the Johnson family out here in the country outside of Austin. The kids and wifey and I had.
Fun learning how to eat fire and.
Break an arrow with our necks and.
Do other fun things we didn't think.
We could do before Brian worked his magic on us.
Now there was a big UFC pay per view event a few weekends after his visit.
Brian happened to be coaching one of.
The fighters in all three of the top three fights, two for championship belts.
He invited me to go to the.
Event, but me being me, I told.
Him, thank you, but I'm gonna be.
In bed hours before the championship fight. So although I didn't go to watch the fights, I did do a little.
Research on his fighters.
I read an article on one of.
The guys fighting for a title.
His prior competitors talked about how much.
He freaked them out because he seemed.
To love getting hit in the face. The harder they hit him, the more.
He smiled as he asked them if.
That was all they had.
Them bop freaked out.
Now, I share that story because in.
My AM Heroic meditation right after Epictetus.
Tells me to practice my philosophy and.
To remember the choice of Hercules, he.
Often reminds me to remember that particular fighter telling me that if he can.
Smile when he literally gets punched in the face, I can smile when I inevitably get metaphorically punched in the face. And well, that's today's plus one.
Now, I understand the fact that the.
Whole martial art metaphor thing might not.
Be your thing, but it's been a.
Handy philosophical teaching tool for thousands of years.
So if you'll indulge me and if.
You feel so inspired the next time.
You get metaphorically punched in the face.
Note not if, but when. I encourage you to remember Epictetus and his boxers and Caner and his mixed martial artists and see if you can have fun flipping the switch and smiling.
As you ask the heroic gods in.
If that is all they've got, that.
Very next challenge you're going to face sooner than you may like.
