The Mental Health Olympics
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The 2020 Tokyo Olympics looks much different from what it was 4 years ago. Although the motto this year is, “Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together.” The true message delivered was the importance of mental health. If you have been following any of the Olympic news, it’s hard to miss the day-by-day updates on the Olympic gymnast Simone Biles last week. The combination of backlash and support as she bowed out of 2 major competitions sighting mental health concerns has poured out across social media.
Honestly, it’s just amazing how a young woman with unbelievable pressure and national expectations can make such a difficult decision. With new information coming out day by day, it’s clear that Simone was simply not “sad” but suffering from a psychological issue called “the twisties”.
“We also have to focus on ourselves, because at the end of the day, we’re human, too.”
— Simone Biles
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The twisties can be described as her brain and body movements were not in sync and when this occurs, athletes lose track of where they are in the air. They only find where the ground is once they have slammed into it. Scary stuff!! Simone Biles is a 4-time gold Olympic medalist with 15 world championship titles. Not only is she a master at her skill, but the pressure to deliver also weighs just as heavy. I can only try to imagine the whole world watch you overanalyze, doubt, just have a bad day at the worst time. Simone displayed how emotionally intelligent she is and even under incredible pressure, she bravely backed out of 2 major competitions to protect herself.
“We have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.”
— Simone Biles
With every interview and Instagram post, Simone remains upbeat and continues to spread a message of positivity and awareness for mental health. It goes without question that we believe boudoir photography is a tool in your toolbox to help nurture self-appreciation and self-care. We simply could not ignore Simone spotlighting mental health!
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Maybe you don’t use your body and mind like a gold medal gymnast; however, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t respect, honor and care for yourself all the same. You may have pressures from your family or career and put your own needs and wants on the back burner. The further we get away from self-care, the harder it is to get back into that routine. When you are burning the candle from both ends your body will start making physical signs to slow you down.
If you ignore these signs and signals that your body is sending you, you will end up hurt. For a gymnast like Simone, it’s the twisties that can lead to physical injury. For us non-Olympians, maybe you work yourself to be literally sick and tired. It is a statistical fact that the more stressed we are, the lower our immune system is. So what do we do when our self-care tank is depleted?
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Let’s start by following Simone Bile’s lead by saying no. Maybe you’re saying no to overtime, maybe it's to a big work project, or skipping out for a few drinks with friends. I believe that oftentimes we associate selfishness with taking care of our needs. I am absolutely guilty of this and know that I am not alone. Saying no allows you to try new things! Maybe that new thing is turning off your phone for the night, playing your favorite music, and discovering a new self-care routine.
“I felt like I had a purpose . . . and it’s to be a voice for the younger generation. And I feel like I’ve done that.”
— Simone Biles
Whichever way you choose to say no to stress and pressure in your life is completely up to you. Just know that it’s better to be honest and not overcommit yourself. You can respectfully say no without feeling guilty and without having to explain yourself. If Simone Biles can do it at the biggest world competition last week, you can do it too!
“I understand that it can be hard to put yourself first and do something just for yourself.
It’s something that’s so easy to put off.
It really feels strange. But I have absolutely no regrets.
Within the last year, I had battled a lot with my mental health. . . and I needed this for me.”
Read more about how a boudoir session helped Cindy with her confidence and body image here!
How will boudoir affect your mental health?
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