The pros at my MMA gym are not afraid to get hit (Not by me at least). They anticipate getting hit, they avoid getting hit, but they aren't afraid to get hit.

They aren't afraid because they know what it feels like to get kicked in the fucking knees. They aren't afraid because they've been punched in the liver many times before. They aren't afraid because they know what it feels like to get knocked down and how tiring it is to pick themselves up again. Some of less experienced guys will make excuses when they get hit. They like to blame outside factors for their own personal shortcomings. The real fighters smile when they get hit, and then they hit back without feeling sorry for themselves.

They understand this pain and struggle well, it's something they've experienced often. They know that pain is something that comes and goes, it's a temporary phenomenon. They understand that even though it sucks an entire bag of donkey dicks to get kicked in the stomach they aren't going to die. Even if it feels like they can't breath they understand they'll catch their breath eventually. Maybe most importantly they know that even if they lose, another chance to win is right around the corner.

Of course not everyone has what it takes to become a pro fighter (myself included), and I'm not saying that being a fighter is the only way to get laid. However even if you don't aspire to become the epitome of a man though the masterful art of physical dominance there are many lessons to be learned from it.

Life is going to kick you in the fucking knees. Life is going to punch you in your fucking liver. Life is going to knock you down. Life will dominate you from time to time. When you get knocked to the ground you can chose to stay there until the ref stops the fight, or you can get back up and start throwing punches. If your afraid of failure, go out and get used to the feeling. If your afraid of the pain, learn to endure it. However no one can give you the discipline or drive required to accomplish either of those things. Either you'll do it, or you wont.

It's not easy to stand back up and face your opponent (life) when you're getting your ass beat, but when you realize that getting hit is inevitable it makes stepping into the ring (making a change) just a little bit easier. You can go forward knowing that life is trying it's god damn best to take you down with everything it's got. You don't need to pity yourself every time life catches you upside the head. Self pity does you no good. Only a few people can ever win every match, luckily for you there's a new chance over the horizon. You just have to be willing to take a couple hits along the way to earn it.