Isaiah 55:8 (KJV)

Isaiah 55:8 (KJV)
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD."

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

A Lesson in Brutal Honesty From the World of MMA

Another one for the “tough love” category for sure.  The above video is a sensationalized edited* version of a conversation that took place at Joe Rogan’s studio for  The Fighter and the Kid podcast.  In essence it is Joe telling his friend Brendan Schaub, a mixed martial artist in the UFC heavy-weight division, that he does not think he should keep fighting.  He tells him he is not good enough to become a champion and the risk is no longer worth it.  This was recorded two days after Brendan’s loss to Travis Browne at UFC 181.  The reason I re-post it here is not really to speak to the point of whether or not Joe’s specific points are correct but because it is an example of someone speaking a hard message to a friend out of love.  A lot of people criticize not that Joe spoke his heart so to speak, but that he did it in a public setting.  In a follow-up recording about how he felt about delivering such a message to his friend, Joe Rogan actually said he would probably agree.   (Joe Rogan explains Brendan Schaub comments)  Brendan also talks in a follow-up recording about what was going on with him while this was happening and immediately following.  (Brendan Schaub responds to Joe Rogan) He deserves respect for listening to what Rogan had to say whether he takes the advise or not.  Since this was streamed live as it was being recorded he was receiving advise via texts from friends and family to not take it and to leave.  It shows a great deal of emotional intelligence for him to be willing to sit through what would feel like a brutal beating of a different kind. 
I believe we all need friends willing to do this but we most often avoid it.  What experiences have you had in either receiving or giving a brutally honest message to someone you love?
*Click here for the Full Version of the Podcast

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