You Only Get One Shot: What Simone Biles Can Teach You About Divorce Mindset

In the 2020 Summer Olympics, US gymnast Simone Biles underwent a crisis of mindset. Having made the US Olympic team, she one of the most discussed athletes expected to win many golds. That summer her mental composure faltered. On the world’s biggest stage, she withdrew from competition in several events.

Mindset management is not only for Olympians. It’s important for all of us in all walks of life, including in times of divorce. In a divorce, your beliefs are questioned, your thoughts are rattled, your emotions can be all over the place and the most important things to you can be on the line. While not an international athletic competition, this can easily be your biggest stage where the outcome matters most.

In 2024, Simone Biles returned to the US Olympic team. Having reestablished her mindset management and now as an advocate for mental balance, she brought back to the US seven gold medals. Relative to divorce, there’s two things we get to learn from her.

First, Biles’ 2020 & 2024 outcomes are the examples of mindset management – one where when done poorly it doesn’t serve you and dashes your dreams. And the other where mindset management brings home the golds. Its undisputed that mindset is a critical component to successful outcomes.

Secondly is the contrast of opportunities. As a party to a divorce you do not have 2 opportunities to be successful in your divorce. You get one shot at this. When they are done, 50% of all divorce issues are permanently resolved, another 25% have onerous burdens to ever change those divorce terms, and the other 25% usually require the passage of years before you can revisit them. You don’t get another opportunity to come back 4 years later to secure the gold outcome you deserve; you have to do it now. Hence, you’ve got to get your mindset management dialed in now.

At Atticus Family Law, being great lawyers is not enough. We’ve recognized that for our clients to succeed in life after divorce, they need the skills and tools of mindset management along with the requisite education and information. These are the things necessary for your divorce to be the springboard to the great life you deserve.