Episode 31: UFC star Miesha Tate on success, winning & happiness

Miesha is one of the most accomplished fighters in UFC history, and a pioneer in the women’s division. The height of her success came in 2016, when she won the Bantamweight Championship, which is the most prestigious women's MMA title in the world. But just four months later, she lost the title. And within that calendar year, she abruptly retired due to the mental exhaustion of winning and losing. Miesha’s story is a cautionary tale, because no matter what career or endeavor we’re pursuing, many of us see success as the key to our happiness. We do this without realizing that success acts like a double-edged sword. When we have an unhealthy fixation on success, it can actually lead to an emotional downfall. In this episode, we explore the tension between pursuing a goal, and then caving to the temptation to put your self-worth in your accomplishments. We unpack the unbelievable feeling that comes with winning, and the despair that comes with losing. We’ll get a behind-the-scenes look into Miesha’s highly publicized rivalry with Ronda Rousey, and how comparison and competition can often fuel an unhealthy obsession with success. Finally, we’ll explore what Miesha learned in recent years that helped her break free from this cycle. We’ll learn how to define success, and how there are actually many components that make up a truly happy and successful life. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro & Trailer 2:55 - Winning the championship after 10 years 12:55 - The despair of losing the championship 18:41 - Ronda Rousey’s su*cidal comments 28:30 - What it’s like to have 15,000 people chanting your name 33:32 - The suffocating pressure to succeed 39:19 - Why do we put so much value in achievement? 47:14 - The illusion that “more” will fix everything 53:42 - Should we care about succeeding at all? 1:04:27 - Dealing with competition & comparison 1:10:37 - What do we give up in our pursuit of success? 1:17:30 - Miesha’s spiritual experiences 1:26:55 - Miesha started fighting because of trauma? 1:35:58 - The abstract nature of spirituality 1:50:14 - How Miesha has redefined the meaning of life 2:05:03 - Miesha’s return to MMA in 2021 2:16:34 - Does success lead to happiness? Follow Miesha on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mieshatate/ YouTube: @MieshaTateUFC Twitter / X: https://x.com/MieshaTate Mighty Pursuit Links: Website: https://www.mightypursuit.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mightypursuit/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mightypursuit/ X: https://x.com/MightyPursuit For business inquiries: hello@mightypursuit.com