This morning I read an article in the New York Times about “Simone Biles and the Weight of Perfection.” Of course, the entire internet is abuzz with articles about her quitting the Olympics, but this one caught my eye because it addresses the “weight of perfection.” Those words deeply resonate with me.
I don’t know when I became a perfectionist. I don’t know if the pressure to be perfect started with external expectations from family, friends, or teachers, or whether it was my own ambition. Every dream, every win, every failure added to the weight I felt on my shoulders. At some point, it became too much to bear. Every little challenge started to seem impossible; every hill became a mountain and every crack on my path was like a canyon. Eventually, I admitted that I couldn’t live like this anymore.
All things require balance; there is no good without bad, so perfection is nothing but an illusion.
There’s no way to drop all the weight from your shoulders without getting crushed. The only way to recover from perfectionism is to stop picking up more rocks and begin to remove each stone piece by piece. It is important to understand that the vision of perfection in your head is not reality. All things require balance; there is no good without bad, so perfection is nothing but an illusion.
Simone Biles is an inspiration and a blessing to humanity. Much of the world only sees her athletic accomplishments and demands perfection from her performances, which she continuously gives. On top of all her fame and glory, however, Simone is carrying around heavy burdens. From the USA Gymnastics scandal and her personal traumas to the mounting pressure to push forward and win every competition no matter the cost, she sensed that the weight of her perfection was one step away from crashing down and consuming her. Before allowing this to occur, Simone did something incredible: she walked away.
Recognizing and admitting your limitations is not a show of weakness; it is a sign of strength that is no easy feat. Despite having the world’s eyes fixed upon her and the relentless pressure to perform her daring and dangerous tricks with the utmost perfection, Simone prioritized her own safety!
Perhaps the key to overcoming perfectionism is to value yourself and your safety above the demands and desire for perfection.
The strength and the courage it took to walk away, her strong sense of self, and, most importantly, the love and respect for her own being astonished me. It made me realize that perhaps the key to overcoming perfectionism is to value yourself and your safety above the demands and desire for perfection. It may sound simple, but as a recovering perfectionist, I can tell you that in my mind, this moment is what truly makes Simone Biles the Greatest Of All Time.
Never forget that there is nothing is more important than your own safety. Let Simone’s example remind you to prioritize yourself above all else. Everybody faces moments in life that demand more than we are able to give. As we continue along our paths, we will face moments like these time and time again. But when those moments appear, we will recognize our limits, reshuffle our values, and place ourselves at the top. Be the GOAT of your own life!
