Mental Health Matters: Liking Myself More Than Likes

Simone Biles’ decision to withdraw from certain gymnastic events at the Tokyo Olympics sent the internet into a tizzy. Why did Simone Biles, the greatest gymnast of all time, shock so many people? Because she decided to honor her mental health. I’ve read the critiques and criticisms about Biles’ decision, and while I can understand some points, at the end of the day, I think Biles did what was true to and necessary for herself. This isn’t someone who has shied away from immense pressure, injuries, trauma, and haters in the past, so to do so recently, I truly believe that Biles made a vital decision to honor herself and her mental wellbeing. When Biles withdrew, Google searches about mental health reached the highest they had in two months. Whether she intended to or not, Biles opened the floodgates on the topic of mental health, which I believe has been extremely valuable for us all.

I’m discussing Biles because her outspokenness about mental wellness has made me take note of my own mental health. Obviously, I’m not an Olympic athlete, so I’m not comparing myself to Biles, but we all have habits and stresses that impact our mental health daily. We all have days that our mental state is better than others, and we all could benefit from pondering what external factors are helping or hurting us.