A Way Of Being

It seems to me Rick Ruben preaches the same Rules for Living as Russell Brand. And they both have a lot of good things to say about the same philosophy, but it's a set of rules more easily embraced by the elite or middle class. 

While I don't disagree with most of it, they rarely talk about what it costs to be able to navigate life in such a way that is fluent within an incredibly privileged advantage, if one comes from economic or social hardship. And then when Rick refers to "Tunnel Vision" as something which loses perspective, he's quoting a myth much of NT bases belief on: not being able to see the forest for the trees.  Both of these are missed moments to talk about the potential in hyper-focus or express a sort of compassion for those buried under the sort of capitalism that robs your resources and leaves you to choose poverty while building the self or putting food on the table. 

Be aware a LOT of his advice is around getting out of your comfort Zone: Autistics have rarely had a comfort zone. So he's muttering the same beliefs which dismiss and fail to recognise Autistic difficulties. For NT's, these two will seem 'enlightened'. They  talk calmly about Self-Empowerment and autonomy and control and influence, because they can easily communicate within the social sphere they're in. The NT system of exchange is ripe: interviewer continually affirming Ricks being, all kinds of ego-petting. But it's GREAT stuff to learn how to do this. Affirm the other. Ask a question. Make conversation about them. And repeat. 

I don't want to discount the conversation, it can be useful to listen to if nothing more than to hear the belief behind NTs when they tell Autistics to just try harder or 'you can't know x' or "you just need to tell yourself -I can". Rick states that Insecurity is a hinderance if it stops you from sharing what's in your heart. But... LOL. We don't tend to encounter Not Sharing due to insecurity haha. What's a hinderance is being misrepresented or worse, creating offence when there wasn't one. Still, it's good to remember that an NT might use the assumption of "Insecurity" against you when in fact, what can stop us from being able to express might be an inability to access the vocabulary or an everything-all-at-once understanding which is too hard to dissect in an instant or a difficulty reading the room and understanding if it's safe to communicate when I'll possibly be misunderstood. 

HOW an autistic can go from being stripped of autonomy and not having access to choices WE would better thrive under, to being expected to take responsibility and make choices with a kind of self-empowerment never taught or afforded is partly what can happen ONLY WHEN our difference is recognised. Some ideas here can be practiced, but if you feel in your core there are things which don't feel right - take note. The differences can be liberating but the kind of freedom that one might feel when having a limb chopped off. 

I fully believe in living in an artful way, that's engaged - but that will mean overturning the laws on lighting and enforcing better rules on Sound limits in society and so forth. And then "paying attention" (vigilant, aware, in the moment, etc.) and not Sleepwalking.  But I might suggest most of us aren't sleepwalking, but trying to find a way out of a labyrinth or a way to not get stuck in "being in the moment." Something NTs rarely, if ever, can say. 

Also - Accidentally reported myself as abusive. LOL Mods, any chance you could add a redact button???

It seems to me Rick Ruben preaches the same Rules for Living as Russell Brand. And they both have a lot of good things to say about the same philosophy, but it's a set of rules more easily embraced by the elite or middle class. 

While I don't disagree with most of it, they rarely talk about what it costs to be able to navigate life in such a way that is fluent within an incredibly privileged advantage, if one comes from economic or social hardship. And then when Rick refers to "Tunnel Vision" as something which loses perspective, he's quoting a myth much of NT bases belief on: not being able to see the forest for the trees.  Both of these are missed moments to talk about the potential in hyper-focus or express a sort of compassion for those buried under the sort of capitalism that robs your resources and leaves you to choose poverty while building the self or putting food on the table. 

Be aware a LOT of his advice is around getting out of your comfort Zone: Autistics have rarely had a comfort zone. So he's muttering the same beliefs which dismiss and fail to recognise Autistic difficulties. For NT's, these two will seem 'enlightened'. They  talk calmly about Self-Empowerment and autonomy and control and influence, because they can easily communicate within the social sphere they're in. The NT system of exchange is ripe: interviewer continually affirming Ricks being, all kinds of ego-petting. But it's GREAT stuff to learn how to do this. Affirm the other. Ask a question. Make conversation about them. And repeat. 

I don't want to discount the conversation, it can be useful to listen to if nothing more than to hear the belief behind NTs when they tell Autistics to just try harder or 'you can't know x' or "you just need to tell yourself -I can". Rick states that Insecurity is a hinderance if it stops you from sharing what's in your heart. But... LOL. We don't tend to encounter Not Sharing due to insecurity haha. What's a hinderance is being misrepresented or worse, creating offence when there wasn't one. Still, it's good to remember that an NT might use the assumption of "Insecurity" against you when in fact, what can stop us from being able to express might be an inability to access the vocabulary or an everything-all-at-once understanding which is too hard to dissect in an instant or a difficulty reading the room and understanding if it's safe to communicate when I'll possibly be misunderstood. 

HOW an autistic can go from being stripped of autonomy and not having access to choices WE would better thrive under, to being expected to take responsibility and make choices with a kind of self-empowerment never taught or afforded is partly what can happen ONLY WHEN our difference is recognised. Some ideas here can be practiced, but if you feel in your core there are things which don't feel right - take note. The differences can be liberating but the kind of freedom that one might feel when having a limb chopped off. 

I fully believe in living in an artful way, that's engaged - but that will mean overturning the laws on lighting and enforcing better rules on Sound limits in society and so forth. And then "paying attention" (vigilant, aware, in the moment, etc.) and not Sleepwalking.  But I might suggest most of us aren't sleepwalking, but trying to find a way out of a labyrinth or a way to not get stuck in "being in the moment." Something NTs rarely, if ever, can say. 

Also - Accidentally reported myself as abusive. LOL Mods, any chance you could add a redact button???