Naomi Osaka: I broke barriers, but I should have put myself first

• In an essay for Insider, Naomi Osaka reflects on her mental-health journey and business ventures.
• "I have a duty to use my platform to help create a more progressive world for others," Osaka wrote.

As a young girl, I was always tasked with writing down a list of tangible goals I wanted to accomplish in my lifetime. I'm not sure if I ever really put pen to paper, but being a professional tennis player was at the top of my list. Little did I know that all my dreams would come true and I would end up moving the needle for marginalized communities.

I'm proud to have accomplished many historic firsts, such as becoming the first Asian ranked as the No. 1 tennis player in the world, the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles title (I've now won four Grand Slams), and the first tennis player to light the torch at the Olympic Games.

Those are notable firsts, but they never felt like enough. I didn't understand why until I realized I kept losing sight of the most important goal: putting myself first.

The journey toward prioritizing mental health is complicated, and there is no definitive finish line. As many know, especially professional athletes, there are few conversations around what it means to put your mental health before winning and how challenging it can be. After all, the only "first" we ever strive for is first place.

Fortunately, I'm surrounded by a network of people who have taught me a valuable lesson during this journey: Confidence and self-assurance are just as valuable as physical skills. Champions need to have a healthy, productive mindset — and that can be learned, just like we learn to serve or shoot in tennis.

Tennis is an especially mental game. You're a team of one on the court, which means only you can get in your way. That's why I'm lucky to have family, friends, and people I admire that remind me to believe in myself whenever I'm unable to. These are all things that I continue to learn and share openly with others because advocating for mental well-being should be at the forefront of conversations about holistic health.

Being one of the first athletes to inspire widespread conversations about mental health, especially as it relates to athletes of color, holds a special place in my heart. My mom is Japanese, and my dad is Haitian, so I identify with both communities. With so few role models in the tennis world that were Asian or Black, this left me with very few footsteps to follow.

My upbringing propelled me to start my foundation Play Academy with Naomi Osaka, which helps girls like me who may feel discouraged from playing sports. Young women from all cultural backgrounds deserve to enjoy the blessings and virtues that sports have to offer. I am hoping to show them what they can achieve on and off the court by using their voices to spark change and create business opportunities for themselves.

Achieving greatness is less challenging if a path has already been forged for you. But for those who don't have an established, viable course, it's easier for self-doubt to fester: Why hasn't this been done before? Does a girl like me have the right to dream this big?

It's a daunting mental psych-out, but I look to inspirations such as Billie Jean King and the Williams sisters to overcome it.

I want to create a world in which young girls and female athletes have relatable role models and dreams that feel attainable. If they're represented, they're more likely to feel confident. And it goes beyond seeing someone who looks like them succeed; It's about having equal access to all opportunities at the most basic levels.

That is why, in addition to partnering with Modern Health, I recently launched my sports-management company, Evolve, with my business partner Stuart Duguid. Being at the helm of my own agency will enable me to do things my way and provide accessible pathways to success for more people.

I also recently announced Hana Kuma, a media company in partnership with LeBron James and Maverick Carter's SpringHill Company to tell more stories about people like me and to lift up global creators who have specific but universal stories to tell. Working alongside people I admire and trust to create companies that support and empower is something I am really proud of.

Additionally, I created Kinlò, a sun-care line for people with melanated skin tones. There have been very few conversations around the importance of sun care for people with melanated skin tones, even though we are just as susceptible to skin cancer as those with fair skin tones. I created a brand to help remedy that plight because everyone should have access to products that were made for them — products that make them feel seen, worthy, and confident.

All of this fuels me because I know I am helping someone else see the potential within themselves. Meanwhile, I'm realizing that many people struggle with self-valuation, and I was never actually alone in this feeling.

Putting myself first has helped me learn to be confident, trust myself, and recognize that I know what is best for me. I created boundaries to disarm the things that were draining me and made room for the things that galvanized me.

Being "the first" in many of my professional pursuits is an indescribable feeling, and it comes with many responsibilities. I have a duty to use my platform to help create a more progressive world for others, but I can't do any of that if I don't honor the most important thing: myself.