When I reflect on the reality of being neurodivergent in a predominantly neurotypical world, both in my own life and through mentoring others,I am continuously struck by one thing: admiration.
Our daily lives, shaped by endless adjustments and recalibrations to navigate this world, are a testament to our flexibility, emotional regulation, resilience, and unique perspectives. It’s extraordinary, truly. Every single day, we’re crafting lives filled with as much joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction as possible, on our own terms.
What amazes me most is that this doesn’t have to result in a specific outcome for it to be meaningful. The effort itself is worthy of recognition.
The Beauty of Small Wins
I get it, financial realities are real, and success often feels defined by visible, measurable outcomes. But let’s pause and shift that perspective for a moment.
What if we considered our efforts, big or small, as incredible achievements?
What if we stopped to recognize those little moments that seem insignificant but are actually monumental?
Think about it: opening the post, sending a difficult email, tackling a task you’ve been avoiding. These may seem tiny, but they’re often the moments where we’ve pushed through layers of internal resistance. When we allow ourselves to say, “I DID THAT!”, especially when it felt like we couldn’t, we challenge the judgmental lens of “normality.”
And that’s powerful.
When we view ourselves with compassion, celebrating these small but meaningful steps, we can let go of the internalized pressure to meet someone else’s standard of success.
Balancing Dreams and Reality
Here’s where things get a little tricky, and where I speak from experience.
When I was younger, I lived entirely in my own world. I held onto my dreams, refusing to accept that they didn’t quite align with the reality around me. And honestly, it was devastating. Realizing that the world I imagined wasn’t one where my dreams could come true brought profound sorrow.
But then… something changed. Slowly, I began to dream differently.
I started imagining a world where I wasn’t alone. A world where we, brilliant neurodivergent minds, came together to make things happen, in the way we wanted. It wasn’t about fitting into predetermined molds; it was about creating our own shapes, our own paths.
This is the dream that inspired the Neurokin Network. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s rooted in this shift: the realization that while tangible outcomes do matter, they aren’t the whole story.
Agency, Strength, and Staying True to Ourselves
In my work with neurodivergent individuals, especially in the Confident Steps Programme (CSP), I emphasize the importance of agency and choice. Having the ability to make decisions about your own life is crucial, particularly when navigating systems that weren’t designed for us.
But here’s the thing: capitalism is LOUD. It shouts that value is tied to productivity, that outcomes are king, that who we are is less important than what we produce.
That’s why I also guide people to explore the deeper truth: when we focus on our strengths and give space for our humanity—our complexity, our wildness—we discover that we can aim for those tangible outcomes without losing ourselves.
In this space of self-acceptance, we’re curious and open. We notice possibilities we might have missed before. We’re guided by intuition and values, not just external expectations.
This is how life starts to make sense.
Creating Space for Brilliance
The Neurokin Network is the embodiment of this philosophy. It’s a place to celebrate our strengths, embrace our humanity, and build a world that works for us. It’s not about bending ourselves to fit someone else’s expectations, it’s about designing something new, together.
So if you’ve ever felt like you’re “not enough” or that you’re stuck trying to meet impossible standards, take a breath. Know that your efforts, however small they might seem, are remarkable. You’re doing amazing things, just by being you.
With love,
Marina XO
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