Pause is Power
As we approach the 2024 Summer Olympics, @powerade recently launched a campaign featuring Simone Biles with the message that Pause is Power. The campaign highlighted Simone’s recent journey from the last Olympics, where she struggled mentally, and made the powerful decision to take a step back from gymnastics and take some time for herself. The message puts a positive spin on the fact that sometimes we need to PAUSE and that PAUSING can be POWERFUL.
If you have seen it yet, you can view it here.
Simone received a lot of grief, judgment, and negativity as a result of her decision, not to mention how hard it must have been on a personal and competitive level to take that step back in the middle of the Olympics. As hard as that choice may have been for her and her teammates, she stood tall and strong and did what was best for herself and everyone involved. She paused.
When I saw the post, I was deeply moved as a human, an athlete, and a Mental Performance Consultant. Athletes, especially those in the public eye, feel a tremendous amount of pressure to perform up to the standards set for them, regardless of whether those standards are internal or external. What Simone did, on the world’s greatest stage, was shed light on the fact that it’s okay to not be okay; it’s okay to take time to work on yourself because in the long run, you will be okay.
Simone is among many professional athletes (Michael Phelps, Naomi Osaka, Kevin Love, to name a few!) who in recent years have been more comfortable and confident acknowledging their struggles and seeking help as a result. I’m so happy this ‘trend’ is finally here because it allows our youth to see positive examples in the athletes they watch and look up to; that it’s a positive thing to ask for help when we need it, and by no means does it mean we’re weak. In fact, I’d argue it's a sign of true strength!
Pause is Power is such a wonderful message. Not only does it embrace that it’s okay to pause, it gives us back the power we may have lost during those mental struggles. When we check in with ourselves, really check in, and reflect on how we’re feeling and what our needs are, we are better for it. So, thank you @powerade, and more importantly, thank you Simone Biles and the countless other athletes for showing your strength and being an example to us all.
My final thoughts are this:
It’s okay to not be okay.
Hard is temporary.
Asking for help shows strength, not weakness.
Sometimes to reach our best, we have to admit that we might not be feeling our best, and lean into the support we have around us. By doing so, we take back the power, and allow ourselves the grace and compassion we deserve. In the end, we can reach our best, feel our best, and be our best.
While my area of expertise is not mental health challenges, I do understand the pressure athletes feel, the fluctuating confidence, and the desire to improve. I’m here to listen to your experience and be a part of your journey. When you’re ready to pause, reach out, and let’s find your power together.
