Is self-curiosity having a moment right now?

Maybe it is because I am working in the mental fitness space, but I have started to notice something interesting happening in culture right now.   

It’s not something that is shouted, but it is there. 

Across sport, music and public life, some of the highest performers in the world are talking less about grit, success and winning and more about mental awareness and finding your joy. 

So it is worth asking: Is ‘getting to know yourself’ becoming…a trend? 

Let’s take a few examples: 

Alysa Liu - Figure Skating Gold medalist in the 2026 Olympics 

After reaching the pinnacle of her sport at age 16, she stepped away.  Something almost unthinkable for a young champion.  Though she was still winning, she had lost her joy.  The whole process of ‘becoming a champion’ had taken over.  She needed to turn inward to figure out what she wanted.   Two years later – after getting to know herself better without the pressure from others – she came back.  This time on her own terms. 

“Now, I get to choose the music and help with the creative process of the program.  If I feel like I have been skating too much, I will back down. No one is going to starve me or tell me what I can or can’t eat. I have my own determination ( I don’t need people pushing me)…I love struggling actually, it makes me feel alive.” - interview on 60 minutes

Ice skating isn’t her ‘entire life’ anymore either and she says that exploring other hobbies and ‘side quests’ keep her curious.  She views competitions as a stage for performing vs. a place to win or lose.  Her goal for the Olympics was to give people an experience and make them feel something - which she most certainly did (The gold medal was just the icing on the cake!)

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Harry Styles - Grammy winning artist

After winning the coveted Album of the Year in 2023, Harry basically disappeared from the spotlight for several years to prioritise his personal life and mental health.  

With his return in 2026 he has discussed his need to learn who he was away from the ‘dopamine hits’ of his work and the ‘reflections’ of other people. 

“It was important to get away from the image I had of myself. Since I was young, I’d been seeing this version of me that other people see and that was constantly being mirrored back at me.  That’s especially the case in the way we use social media now - for everyone - and I’m not immune to that. In having time away from everything, it’s allowed me to have conversations with myself on a deeper level that I didn’t have time to explore before.” - interview with The Sunday Times, February 2026

Eileen Gu - the most decorated female freestyle skier in Olympic history

Known for giving very thoughtful and introspective interviews, Eileen has shared some of her own processes that help her succeed. 

“Yes, I spend a lot of time in my head. But not in an egotistical kind of way. It’s in like a tinkering, scientist kind of way. I journal a lot. I break down all of my thought processes. I think I apply a very analytical lens to my own thinking, and I kind of modify it. How can I approach my own brain the way that I approach my skiing? And with neruoplasiticy on my side, I can literally become exactly who I want to be. How cool is that?” - press interview at the 2026 Milan Olympics 

What ties these voices together isn’t vulnerability for its own sake. 

It is legitimate self-curiosity. 

• Why do I feel this way?  

• Why do I behave like this?

• Do I actually enjoy this? 

• Who am I outside of the expectations others set for me? 

• What does success mean to me? 

Traditionally, high performance has been purely about discipline, control and external validation.  These examples show a shift toward reflection, awareness, and internal alignment as the foundation for excellence. 

What is really important is that they are sharing these thoughts publicly.  

Culture doesn’t change through ideas, it changes through permission. 

And, when global superstars start talking about this, they give teenagers permission to ask the same questions. 

To be honest, we hope it isn't a trend — because trends are fleeting.  

Rather, we believe this is a correction.  A move away from the need for external validation above all else toward self-awareness, internal clarity and cred. 

Maybe ‘Do I actually know myself?’ is the most important question we can help young people learn to ask!  

We believe it is.