Before today, May 31, 2021, the only thing I shared in common with the tennis player, Naomi Osaka, is our name. I am far from an athlete and she is the same age as my daughter, making me old enough to be her mother. I could tell you about her athletic accomplishments, rankings, and her net worth but I will leave that to the media and Google. I believe that is part of the issue. As an athlete, she is expected to train, perform and execute at the highest level and be “on” at all times because she is a public figure.
While we share a name, I felt the connection when she made her announcement to take care of her mental health this past week. She found awareness of the importance of her mental health and self-care.
(Photo Credit:Naomi Osaka Twitter)
Naomi announced her decision on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, that she would not participate in any media/press conferences during the 2021 French Open. She cited concerns about her and other athletes’ mental health, further criticizing the dynamic of reporters firing off questions to athletes after having performed in some of the most stressful and extenuating matches/games.
Her decision and statement displayed both her courage and self-awareness to set the boundaries she needed to protect her mental health. Unfortunately, her intention was not embraced nor respected (in my opinion). Naomi Osaka was fined $15,000 and threatened disqualification or suspension by officials when she did not attend the press conference after her singles match win on Sunday, May 30, 2021. As a result with just as much confidence and intention as she had three days before, the breaking news on the next day was that Naomi committed to her decision by withdrawing from the 2021 French Open and resolved to take some time away from the court.
While Naomi’s decisions about her mental health and self-care have made national news over the last few days, yours won’t but it is just as important. While you may not identify as an athlete, you may see her as your daughter, sister, friend…or even see yourself in who she currently represents to the world. She is someone who has gifts, talents, commitments, and dedication to something greater than themselves. She is you…offering so much to others, giving selflessly of her time, and sacrificing beyond limits to execute at the highest level. Here are three lessons you can learn from her journey over the last few days as I have seen them affirmed in her story over the last few days.
The Lessons
- Self-care is personal. Naomi made the decision for her. This was not a group effort or project. As the process has played out, Naomi has been committed to the decision all the way through. She was aware the decision would impact her rankings and her finances. She has been fined and threatened by officials with suspensions and disqualifications from future tournaments. No matter who it may affect or include, the decision to engage in self-care is one you must decide and make for yourself. Mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial health are all decisions you have to engage in with your whole heart no matter what the response or reactions of others will ultimately be.
- Self-Care is about commitment. Naomi was committed to her decision and warranted follow-through. The majority of our self-care decisions are abandoned because we simply don’t commit. When deciding self-care is your goal, don’t commit to the task, commit to the feeling. Commit to exercise until you feel the way you desire. Commit to better communication because you want to feel heard. Commit to mental health support because you want to feel more moments of happiness. Commit to creating self-care for yourself because you want to feel like you give yourself more of what you deserve and less of what you have left.
- Self-Care is about courage. Naomi takes rank with other courageous women, who make the decision every day to choose themselves. They choose to say “no” when their “yes” would be accepted more comfortably. She was courageous enough to go against the status quo to be the best version of herself. As you choose self-care, define your courage-osity (the quality of being courageous). Listen, the courage Naomi is displaying now, she didn’t wake up with it on Wednesday morning when she said, “Nah, I ain’t speaking to the media.” This was the display of small courageous decisions up to that moment. It is the same for you. Do not leave this article and walk into your living room or office talking crazy to your people. Make small courageous decisions in every moment until the courageous decisions become part of your everyday routine. Then, at the moment when you need to make some of the biggest and most courageous decisions of the moment, it will come and be natural. It will feel right.
I hope that you can find the courage and commitment to make a personal decision about your self-care. As #IStandWithNaomi, I also stand with you.
Choose always to give yourself the best rather than what you have left.
