Leap into the Simone Biles documentary!
Simone Biles is undoubtedly one of the most cherished athletes of all time, and now, the GOAT is back. Simone is a personal example of courage that I truly admire.
As a kid, acing gymnastics wasn’t my jam; I was all about owning the stage with tap, jazz, and ballet moves. I mixed dance and song, nailing “Ballet Laurie” in the musical Oklahoma back in the ’80s at Westlake High, rocking a perm, point shoes and a song in my heart, I basked in the glow of living my dream as a broadway star. Just like many of us, we give up on our dreams way too soon, that’s why this return to the Olympics in 2024 for Simone Biles is so inspiring.
Simone’s inspiring story of resilience resonated with me for another reason as well; one of my dreams has always been to write a book. I have been a self-help book junkie since young adulthood, and I wanted to write something that really inspired others. Just as Simone took the stage at the 2020 Olympics, my mom and I started sitting down to research mother-daughter relationships and their impact on mental health. Simone’s narrative marked the opening paragraph of Pink Chaos. Just as she faced challenges, my mother and I went through a similar experience. Regrettably, she had to pull out of the 2020 Olympics. During that same time, my book also hit a standstill.
Simone’s story, no matter what the outcome this summer is certainly a hero’s journey Joseph Campbell spills the beans on the hero’s journey, calling it a wild ride of self-discovery. Picture a hero tackling obstacle courses galore to conquer their big dreams! Showing up is a victory in my opinion, especially for Simone and all of us. Her story shines bright in this new Netflix two part documentary which inspired this blog. Watching this doc, every sentence felt like a great tools or technique that she learned in therapy. So, here’s just some highlights that stood out to us.
Start with the basics:
When Simone reentered the gym, she approached it gradually by starting with the fundamentals. The same principle applies when dealing with a mental health challenge – focus on the basics: sleep, nutrition, and exercise. Establishing connections with others can also serve as the initial step towards recovery.
Silence your comments on social media simply delete apps that make you feel like _____.
When your in a vulnerable place it’s important to reduce negative stimuli, when Simone said she silenced her comments and removed her social media apps. you can hear in simone’s inner dialogue asking herself the important questions? Who’s opinion really matter to me? Not the guy who can’t do a cartwheel.
Grow from Your Experiences
Simone’s husband shared a powerful message with her: “Grow through what you go through,” one of ATFG favorites sayings. Embrace the lessons that life presents, even amidst challenges, and allow yourself to grow. Simone found strength in a mantra, “Still I Rise,” which held various significant meanings for her. We encourage our clients to find a mantra that works for them and their situation. Sometimes a mantra can be lyrics of a song, like in a session the other day when a client quoted none other than T. Swift….” I can do it with a broken heart” after a bad breakup or simply I can do it.
Certainly, we will be cheering for Simone and all the Olympic athletes this summer. Before I go, I want to share a powerful statement that resonated with me deeply: “You are worth not giving up on.”
Thank you Simone for showing up for all of us! You’ve Got This.
Oh and by the way, my book is finally being released this September for some great tools on getting out of the Twisties in your mind pre-order your copy TODAY…
