I’m currently in the process of re-watching the documentary on Netflix titled Simone Biles Rising. If the name didn’t give it away, this four-part series is about Simone Biles, arguably the best gymnast to ever exist, and the struggles she has encountered throughout the duration of her gymnastics career.
If you haven’t watched it, I absolutely recommend doing so, hence why I’m watching it for the second time now.
There is a line Simone states in one of the episodes that resonates with me so deeply, and I wanted to write a post about it. At one point, she explains how, in sports, it is far easier to be the underdog, and I can’t help but feel as though this ideology is applicable to most elements of life, not solely sports.
When you’re talented at something, you tend to be noticed sooner than your competitors. This is a wonderful occurrence, and we should be praised when we excel at something. What is not so wonderful, however, and what a lot of people don’t realize, is once you’ve made it apparent you’re good at something, the expectation for you to perform well each and every time has been set, and if you happen to have a rough day here and there, you’re scrutinized far more heavily than most.
I firmly believe the standard that is applied to individuals who are talented at what they do is an almost guaranteed way to set them up for a life of perfectionism, guilt, and anxiety.
Am I implying that we shouldn’t strive to do and be our absolute best at anything we do in life? Absolutely not; I live by the notion of giving it my all or doing my best with anything. But, is it not worth considering how when we tend to excel, there is no longer an opportunity to make a mistake, but instead are expected to be perfect in what we do?
Photo by Eugene Lim on Unsplash
ontheedgeofeverything 