Neurodiversity: Embrace Your Identity | By C.J Lyles
We are all different - cultivated from different cloths, sculpted from different minds, and influenced by different worlds. However, we are all still people.
Neurodivergence is a blanket term for most people. You can self-identify or be medically assigned. Your behaviors might be considered outside of the "norm," but they are normal to you. Sometimes you might be misunderstood in certain situations or environments. For example, I have mind-numbing anxiety. I work through things backwards and hyper-fixate on the most irrelevant tasks or topics. But unfortunately, that's what drives me.
My favorite saying is, "I function best in chaos," which is a double-edged sword. Sometimes I feel out of control because I have a hard time focusing or I'm hyper-focused on one thing. There's never an in-between. I easily get overstimulated by too many different sounds and social settings. In those moments, I wish I could crawl inside myself or escape to another dimension. I find solace in the fact that we are all different. The most important thing to know is that it's quite alluring to see how we think through things differently.
Over time, I have learned new techniques to better cope when I feel overstimulated. Music has been my tranquil escape from reality. I listen to the words, the rhythm, and the instruments and once again feel at peace. It's almost euphoric how quickly I'm able to become leveled again. Taking time to self-reflect has allowed me to understand on a deeper level how I think and process things.
Moreover, I realized that we all stand out in our own way. That's what makes the world so beautiful and diverse. How we view the world differentiates across everyone. But over time, I embraced that my brain is not wired the same as others, and that's okay. I do what's best for me, and it works. I have now found an environment where people are patient with me and understand that I approach everything a bit backward.
Over the years, there have been new resources and studies into neurodivergence. There are people out there who are painting neurodiversity in a new light. The neurodiversity movement promotes the idea that ADHD, dyslexia, and other conditions should not be deemed symptoms of disorders. They should be viewed as normal expressions that shouldn't require treatment. They want to acknowledge their differences and recognize the person as a whole. The time is now to change the narrative around neurodivergent individuals and groups. We need to embrace the differences in how everyone thinks and operates. Understanding your differences can be the most empowering thing you can do in life.
No one is like you, and no one can be you. Your life experiences, your perspectives, and your brain can bring light to the darkest corners of the universe. Be patient with yourself and understand that your mind is your safe haven. It's your space to be unapologetically you. Never change who you are to fit in. Let the world adapt to you and your beautifully sculpted mind.
C.J. Lyles is a US-based Digital Marketing at Multiverse and is writing for the Apprentice Lens as part of the Blogging Team. Here’s more about him:
“Hi everyone! My name is C.J, I am a Digital Marketing Apprentice at Google based in Atlanta, GA. I enable scaled impact for the Retail sector and deliver insights at scale for Retail clients. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and be a part of a like-minded and creative team. Developing better writing and communication skills while sharing my personal story will be the most fulfilling experience. Writing has never been my forte but I do a plethora of self reflection and decided I can transfer that to paper to possibly connect with others. My dream is to write a book on my life experiences to share with the world. I look forward to learning from you all and I hope I am able to inspire you with my writing.”