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After Simone Biles\u2019 shocked the world by withdrawing from previous medal competitions<\/strong><\/a> at the Olympics to focus on her mental health, the gymnast returned on Tuesday winning a bronze medal on the balance beam.<\/p>\n Biles\u2019 decision to pull out of the Olympics highlights the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, especially for the high achievers. It also sends a positive message to the girls around the world, as well as parents to teach their children to listen to themselves and advocate for their own needs.<\/p>\n Here are six lessons we can learn from the Olympian.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In an interview with The Washington Post<\/strong><\/a>, Tyish Hall Brown, a clinical psychologist in child and adolescent psychology and associate at Howard University explained that the first step for Biles was \u201cidentifying within herself where she was.\u201d As an athlete who performs gymnastics while 10 feet in the air, Biles has developed an awareness of where her body is in space.<\/p>\n Katy Hurley, author of \u2018No More Mean Girls<\/strong><\/a>,\u2019 told The Washington Post that having a moment like this is amazing. \u201cI am working with kids every day to help them take their own pulse and realize where they are.\u201d Having the awareness of knowing how you feel physically and emotionally, as well as your capabilities \u2013 is a critical life skill.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sarah Vinson, a child and adult psychiatrist in Atlanta believes we need to \u201cstop talking about resilience so much and start talking about boundaries.\u201d<\/p>\n In the past, the U.S. Gymnastics\u2019 culture focused on a win-at-all-costs, that enabled Larry Nassar to sexually abuse more than 150 gymnasts<\/strong><\/a>, including Biles. This environment brought more harm to the gymnasts, by not emphasizing personal boundaries, and also ended the career of Kerri Strug, back in 1996 when she attempted to do the vault.<\/p>\n According to RAINN<\/strong><\/a>, 1 in 6 women will survive an attempted, or completed rape in their lifetime, with those more at risk being between the ages of 12 and 34. By understanding the importance of boundaries it can offer the most powerful protection.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s important to understand that you are in charge of your own self. \u201cYou want to believe that people in charge will look out for you and protect you, but once you realize that\u2019s not necessarily the case,\u201d Vinson tells The Washington Post, \u201cthere\u2019s an awareness that it\u2019s really on you to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n1) Understand your body and your mind<\/h3>\n
2) Keeping boundaries<\/h3>\n
3) You\u2019re the one who\u2019s in charge<\/h3>\n