(Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)
“I’ve always had really good intuition about things. Like, freaky. I never tell people about it, but I can feel a lot of things; they’re going to happen before it does happen. ”
Simone Biles: A Testament to Intuitive Guidance
In the opening scenes of her documentary Simone Biles Rising and in an interview with NBC journalist Alex Cooper, Simone talks about her “freaky” precognitive abilities — sometimes she knows what’s going to happen before it does. When she was at the Tokyo Olympics, her inner voice was talking to her.
“I couldn’t pinpoint what it was [that would go wrong], or when it was going to happen,” she said, “But I just had this feeling deep down that this is not going to go the way I want it to. Unfortunately, I felt that way about the [Tokyo] Olympics.”
Moments after this feeling, Simone failed an attempt on the vault. Shortly after, she decided to withdraw from the competition.
Understanding Everyday Intuition
Everyday intuition is the ability to hear, sense, or feel inner guidance with clarity, not just for big moments, but for average goings-on in our daily lives. You don’t need to meditate at an ashram, talk to a psychic, or read tarot cards for this to work. It’s far more pedestrian. And when we train ourselves to be open to guidance, it’s there when we need it.
Athletes, I believe, are among the most naturally intuitive people. Along with talent and hard work, athletes train themselves to be fully present and to sense what’s coming. They make high-stakes, split-second decisions constantly, and that fine-tunes their precognitive abilities.
When Simone dropped out in Tokyo, her intuition was talking to her. More than that, she had the confidence to listen to it.
Listening to Inner Guidance: The Power of Intuition
This is how everyday intuition works. Simone’s inner voice said, “This isn’t going to go the way you want it to.” Notice it didn’t encourage her to avoid this outcome. It didn’t tell her what to do. Its purpose was for her to anticipate it, to lean into it. It told her a shake-up was coming, like it or not, and she could decide how to handle it.
Her choice to drop out of the Tokyo competition made emotional sense, but it certainly wasn’t logical. She was carrying her team, in the best shape of her life, and completely prepared to compete. People around the world were counting on her. But Simone knew that her physical, emotional, and mental state were exhausted from being pushed to the extreme and for experiencing some personal trauma. She knew what that voice was suggesting, that she needed space to heal.
The Courage to Trust Intuition
Everyday intuition has two parts: First, you hear the message. Then you understand the guidance behind it and have an opportunity to act on it. What’s right isn’t always logical, and thankfully Simone saw that. The decision to do what was best for her, to drop out despite the pressure to compete, was courageous. In the long term, taking that break paid off.
Simone took two years away from competitive gymnastics to heal. She got married, went to therapy, rested, and reconnected with herself. When she was ready, returned to the sport she loved a more whole, happy person. Her performance in Paris shows it.
“I’ve learned so much about myself in such different Olympic experiences,” she told Cooper. “I feel like at this point, nothing can break me.”
Embracing Everyday Intuition
Simone Biles’ story is a powerful testament to the strength of everyday intuition. By listening to her inner voice and acting on it, even when it defied logic, she not only safeguarded her well-being but also set herself up for greater success in the future.
How to Sharpen your Everyday Intuition
This month, I’ll be talking about how you can hear your own inner voice. I’ll talk about a specific kind of meditation called “Sitting in the Power” that is shown to prime your brain waves to receive insight, and how to understand the difference between your own mental thoughts and actual insights. If you want to get started, check out the intuitive development quick guide. It’ll walk you through step by step.