34. What Going Viral Taught Me About Criticism

In Episode 34 of The Reset, Shaun shares a deeply personal story about what happened when he unexpectedly went viral after stepping into the Octagon for an MMA fight.

The experience started as a personal challenge.

Shaun signed up for a 20-week Fighter Warrior training camp and spent months preparing for the opportunity to step into the cage. At the end of the camp, he chose to compete — fully aware of the risks and fully committed to the experience.

But the fight itself was over quickly.

In just 16 seconds, the referee stopped the match and awarded the win to Shaun’s opponent.

For many people, that might have been the end of the story.

But what happened next was something Shaun never expected.

After sharing the video online, the fight quickly went viral — generating 1.8 million views on Instagram and nearly a million views on Facebook, along with thousands of comments.

At first, the response was supportive. People admired the courage it took to step into the cage.

But as the video spread further, the tone began to change.

Criticism.
Judgment.
Harsh comments from people who had never met him.

Initially, Shaun found himself trying to defend the situation — explaining that the fight was his choice, that no one else was to blame, and that he accepted full responsibility for stepping into the cage.

But eventually, he realized something important:

Not every opinion deserves your energy.

The more he engaged with negative comments, the more it pulled him away from what actually mattered — being present with his family and enjoying the holiday season.

That realization led to a shift.

Instead of trying to explain himself to everyone, Shaun chose to let people have their opinions and focus on the things he was grateful for.

He walked out of the cage without serious injury.

He went home to sleep in the same bed as his wife and daughter.

And in that moment, those things mattered far more than the opinions of strangers on the internet.

This episode explores the reality of putting yourself out there publicly — especially when your work, your story, or your life becomes visible to a wider audience.

When you show up authentically, you invite both support and criticism.

That polarity is part of the process.

But the meaning you attach to those experiences is what ultimately shapes how they affect you.

For Shaun, going viral wasn’t the outcome he expected — but it became a powerful lesson about perspective, resilience, and learning to let go of the need to defend yourself.

Because sometimes the greatest freedom comes from simply letting people think what they want… and continuing to live your life anyway.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might need the reminder that not every voice deserves your attention.