Think Differently!

Tonight on Neurodiversity Radio

May 28th – Suzy Manning (aka Suzy Sizzzl)!
This week’s guest on Neurodiversity Radio is Suzy Sizzzl!

Suzy Manning is the CEO of SIZZZL, Powerful Women Who Ignite the World. She is a transitional coach, healer, speaker, author, and radio show host helping women live and lead from their true authentic self. Her expertise is helping women in transition create a solid unshakable foundation within them to design lives and businesses from inspiration, inner wisdom, and a place of service. Sizzzl is the foundational missing piece in your puzzle of life that keeps you grounded and focused when life happens.

Suzy holds a Master’s degree in Agency Counseling from Siena Heights University. Continual immersion in her own self-growth and evolution allows her to connect with others with authenticity and impeccability. Her studies have included shamanism, reiki, massage, enlightened warrior training, train the trainer, millionaire mind intensives, investment and business building, inner wealth creation, and 4T prosperity.

Her personal intent is to empower women to own their magnificence to step into authentic leadership whether in their family, their community or on the world stage. There is a powerful energy at a cellular level in women when they embrace their feminine power, sensuality, and intuitive wisdom. It is time to be seen and time to be heard. Women are the change agents ushering in a new relational consciousness.
www.Sizzzl.com

To view the episode and set your show reminder, click HERE.

Neurodiversity, Hearing and Listening

Neuro-of the brain

Diversity-the state or fact of being diverse;difference,

unlikeness

Even though the work I do can be intense and serious, and I, like many in the Autism Mind Family can be intense and serious, there is a lot of comic relief to be had out there!

Communication is a real issue for anyone who is human, and especially those of us with Autism Spectrum issues. We hear, we listen, or think we are listening, and then our response sometimes is hilarious! Why? Because what you say to me is about me, and my thought process, not about my actually listening to you!

The term “Auditory Processing” is used to describe how we process what we hear. You say something, and then our mind takes in the information, makes associations and the wheels start turning. What we don’t like is that when someone doesn’t get the response they believe is appropriate, they call it a disorder!

What so many people fail to realize is that we do hear you, we’re just not always listening. You say the word “bicycleand then we hear bicycle and we process it according to what bicycle means to us, not what it means to you. So there you are taking about bicycles in the context of a bike shop, and then you get some person talking about their bra size! For the person with the bra issue, it is a perfectly reasonable response because that’s the association made! They leaned over while riding a bike and somehow got their bra strap stuck on the gear thingy on the handle!

Here is the example that caused me to write this post today. I have a dear friend who is a techie and someone I have great fondness and respect for. Yesterday, I wrote about having an open mind and being receptive, and he wrote a response about having an open mouth and saying what comes to mind and how saying too much can get you in trouble.

This is such a fabulous example! When I read his response it made me giggle! Was he wrong? No, of course not! It was just such a classic example of this issue! Although what I was discussing was the need to keep and open mind and heart in order to be able to receive good things, what he was processing at the time had been about past lessons learned about being too open in a conversation and saying things that may have been true, but ended up being inappropriate and/or hurting someone.

My dear friend’s response was wonderful and it totally cracked me up because it wasn’t where I was coming from at all!

The lesson here is this: if you want to understand Different Thinkers, start paying attention to how we respond to conversation. What is usually never discussed is that we are thinking, so much so often, that you may be trying to solve a very simple dilemma about folding laundry and we’re way out there in the PhD world designing the world’s best most efficient washer and drier, or thinking of ways to help you manage your feelings about laundry so you can be more present to your family, or any number of things that we believe could be helpful to you!

We are, believe it or not, trying to help and be there for you-we are! We just sometimes need help to come back to Earth and get really basic and simple. Many, many people need help thinking bigger thoughts and outside the box. This is not our problem-and really this is great for you! We are the ones solving the big questions because we are the big Different Thinkers! You laugh at we Nerds, whatever our age as we are “socially backward” and don’t do well is social situations. What is hardest for us is that all you want to talk about is the weather, and we want to talk about the formation of clouds and the Archetypal images found in clouds and that reminds us of a great book we read about Jung’s experiences with……………….

Light and Love to All of God’s Children!

Heather M. McCrae, MM MEd

Copyright © 2012 Neurodiversity Coaching

*Except The Neurodiversity Principles, which are the work of Dr. Thomas Armstrong, alone. Quoted from “Neurodiversity”. (http://www.thomasarmstrong.com/neurodiversity.php ) ©Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D. 2012, with permission of the author.

The application of these Principles, as explained here in my Coaching Practice is solely mine, and no inference is ever intended.

How Open Are you?

Neuro-of the brain

Diversity-the state or fact of being diverse;difference,

unlikeness

Over the winter when I was within and really digging deep inside about my Life and how I wanted to Live differently, I had a very stark realization. I didn’t get to experience many, many things because I just wasn’t open to them!

When you live in fear, for whatever reason, you stay way up in your head and out of your Heart and Body. Those of us in the Autism Mind Family have very busy minds. We can be some freaky genius people, and also the most frightened. Don’t forget, for us, everything is very loud and very intense and very bright-sometimes too much so. For many of us, the only coping skill we have is to be shut down and completely cut off from both reality and what we truly feel.

I have had some amazing experiences in my Life! I have connections and affections that mean the world to me! I have traveled to Hawaii, Israel, Mexico, San Diego…many other places in the U.S.

Ask me if I enjoyed it? This is not to sound like a spoiled brat, but I really didn’t have fun the whole time. I did at points, but being as shut down and frightened as I was, I was all up in my head most of the time and couldn’t relax and enjoy it.

Take it from me, if you want the good stuff, you must learn to make Peace with You! Only when you have some Inner Peace, will your Heart be open enough to really take in all there is to Love and Enjoy!

Since I came home to Canada where I was born, I feel like I got my Mojo back! My Heart and Mind are more open than ever and My Life reflects that.

Here are some things to consider:

  • When you stay attached to past events that hurt you, you have no room for new information or Light or Joy. The moment, however, you decide that you are open to shifting out of it and letting it go, the Universe will conspire to help you do that!
  • If you are lonely, you must first be open to really, really loving you and taking care of who you are and what you need! When you can do that, you won’t be lonely and relationship will find  you in the most unexpected and amazing ways!
  • Spending Time in Nature can help you get back in your body and stay grounded
  • When you want to be Open, you will be. Trust me, like any new behaviour, it takes practice, but like any muscle, the more you use it, the better you get at using it!

You are worth so much more than you can imagine! Do not let your head and your ego keep you from Love. You are Infinitely Loveable!

Love and Light to All God’s Children!

Heather M. McCrae, MM MEd

Neurodiversity, Mothers and Sons

Neuro-of the brain

Diversity-the state or fact of being diverse;difference,

unlikeness

I have observed the relationship that boys have with their Mums: first as a sister, then a Nanny, then as a Special Educator, and finally as the Neurodiversity Coach. Ladies, we need to talk.

There are two sides to every story. There is how women are treated, and then there is what we allow. Every abusive man has a mother who was abused and allowed that abuse to continue. A friend of mine told me once something that was very hard to hear-it hit me like a slap in the face-a victim can always find a bully.

For the record, I was abused as a child. My father was also abused-true story. I grew up as a bully-victim. My temper ran very hot and very cold, just like my dad. I was a bully to those I felt safe in bullying, and a victim to just about everyone and everything.

Whatever the Neurodiverse issue a child has, whatever it is, he must learn how to love and respect women. How? By learning to love and respect you!

This blog post is for the Mums who are so nice and so kind and so generous that it is turning your sons against you-they see your kindness and generosity as a weakness and don’t respect it.

In almost every culture, a Mother’s Love is boundless! We are taught from an early age to be overly generous and give ourselves away. When we have children, we love them so much, we give them everything they want and need, without a thank you, or any sort of acknowledgement. The problem is, by just handing everything over, you are also handing everything over!

I know some young boys who are from a culture that is not mine. They are Buddhist, and so are their parents. The parents did not grow up in the West here in North America, but the boys have. These two selfless, mild and kind parents do everything for their sons, without hesitation, and it has affected the family so much that I was called in to Coach.

The most important part of Parenting Different Thinkers is understanding that these children do not think the same way you do! The kids I have taught and now Coach are super smart, super sensitive, and at times, also super arrogant, and super demanding. They think nothing of complaining to and verbally abusing their mothers. They have expectations, and when they are not met, they act out. Parents tiptoe around them,not wanting to upset them. They are also just as likely to completely shut down when confronted about their behaviour and accuse the adults in their lives of yelling at them, especially when the confronting adult is using a calm but clear tone! I’ve seen it first-hand.

One of the most important messages of Neurodiversity is that because we are all different, we are all the same. Children are children-they are. ADHD, Autism, wheelchair, breathing tube, doesn’t matter-children are children. All Children are special and none of them are-all at the same time. Every single one of our children deserves and needs our respect, and that Love and respect requires healthy boundaries and the appropriate use of the word “NO”!

It is so true that I am an advocate of parents taking a time out when they want to throttle their kids-I don’t know anyone who has ever taken care of a child who didn’t feel that way at one point in time. It is also true that I have said over and over again that we, as adults must pick and choose our battles with children.

It is also very important to point out that there is a huge difference between a child having a bad day, and a child whose attitude is self-centered, selfish and spoiled. the absolute worst thing you can do is spoil your child, any child, because you either feel guilty or sorry for them. Don’t do it. None of that is about your child, and all of that is about you!

Here are some examples where stepping up to the plate in a small way creates respect:

  • Child says (doesn’t ask) “Five more minutes”. The best response is a clear “no”. If they don’t come in, turn off the TV, X-Pad, i-box or whatever, calmly go and turn it off. Look them straight in the eye and say “no means no”. Tell them if they are upset to take a minute and then you have to get on with whatever you have to get on with.
  • if there is something that your child really wants that is expensive, ask them what they are willing to do to help pay for it. If they say nothing, then don’t buy it.
  • if a child is being rude and abusive to you, calmly and clearly and quietly tell them that you are happy to listen to what they have to say when they say it with respect and can be polite. After that, walk away. Don’t make it a big deal, don’t yell back, just don’t accept unacceptable behaviour. It begins and ends with you

It is essential to understand that bullies are borne from both what is done and what is not done-what is said and what is not said-what is permitted and what is not. A bully is not created over night and unwanted behaviours are never created in a vacuum.  When people say “God is in the details”, it is very true.

This entire problem begins and ends with you, Mum! Don’t let anyone treat you with disrespect-especially not you! Love and Respect your Abilities, Gifts and Talents enough not to give them away or share them with anyone-man woman or child-who is not willing to show you the proper respect.

Light and Love to you!

Heather M. McCrae, MM MEd

Copyright © 2012 Neurodiversity Coaching

*Except The Neurodiversity Principles, which are the work of Dr. Thomas Armstrong, alone. Quoted from “Neurodiversity”. (http://www.thomasarmstrong.com/neurodiversity.php ) ©Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D. 2012, with permission of the author.

The application of these Principles, as explained here in my Coaching Practice is solely mine, and no inference is ever intended.

Neurodiversity and Neurophobia

Neuro-of the brain

Diversity-the state or fact of being diverse;difference,

unlikeness

I was disheartened yesterday when an online friend “unfriended” me because I am a Lesbian. No I don’t shout it to the rooftops, or throw it in everyone’s face-I have no need because I have no fear about it-I am who and what I am.

What many of us don’t understand, though, is that we are owned by those things that frighten us the most. Neurophobia,fear of those who think differently from us is a pandemic problem.

Wars are won and fought because of the fears we have. Lives are lost,. children are bullied and commit suicide because of Neurophobia.

I love everyone. I do. I fear no one-no one! I just don’t. I have no reason to because I love and accept myself just as I am. Have I always? Of course not. I grew up in a fear, shame, and guilt-based family system. I have been on my own journey of healing just like you. Do I have fears and insecurities? Every day. They come and they go-some take longer than others to pass through, but that is about how deeply the fear goes.

As the Neurodiversity Coach I want to support you and Guide you in releasing the things that scare you the most. These thoughts are the very things that are keeping you from being all that you can be.

Bullying begins with one simple thought that we aim at ourselves-I am not enough. This snowballs until we are filled with self-hatred. Unfortunately, more often than not, we project this self-hatred out. We bully the people who are most like us! We get angry at the very people who are showing us who we truly are.

It amazes me that those who are most opposed to Homosexuality, are those who have the deepest secrets to hide. You would be surprised to know how many people were bullies and homophobes before they came out and loved and accepted who they truly are!

I am a Christian. I am. I know that Jesus is the EloHim of My Universe. I also know, factually, that the Bible was written hundreds of years after His death, by the Council of Nicea. This council was led by Emperor Constantine. There were many Gospels not included in the New Testament and these have become known as the Gnostic Gospels. So, do I take every word in the New Testament as the Word of God? No, I don’t. I do, however, take what Christ said and did very much to heart. There is quote after quote in the Bible, attributed to Jesus Christ that talk about Compassion, Forgiveness, Unconditional Love, Kindness, and Service to those in need.

This is the Jesus that I know and Follow. He Commands me to Love with my Whole Heart, even those who “hate” me-those who project their fears at me. Why? Because the amount of fear required to hate someone you don’t even know is so intense, that if you are the person feeling that hatred, you have a lot more to worry about than me!

I know evil exists. evil is a by-product of fear. The opposite of Love isn’t hate, it’s fear. We fear what we don’t understand and choose to ignore in ourselves. If you see yourself as a True Christian, as a Follower of the Most High Jesus Christ, then let go of the fear you feel about all those things within you-look at them! Ignorance is nothing more than ignoring reality! When you truly Love and Accept yourself, warts and all, that is the true Miracle! To be able to look at yourself in the mirror with Authentic Love and forgive yourself as Christ has already forgiven you, as evidenced in His Crucifixion, the devil cannot harm you! That is how we are saved by the Blood of the Lamb!

If you really, really, want to be of Service to the Light, to the Most High Jesus Christ, then truly Love Your Self! Let that Love radiate out! Allow the Light and Love of Jesus Christ enter into your Heart! Let it warm you and Heal you! Let that Love flow out to everyone and everything around you. Franklin Roosevelt was so right-we have nothing to fear but fear itself!

Stay grounded in your body in Reality! Face what you are most afraid of! The only people places and things that control you are those that  you give your Power to. I am here to help!

Light and Love to All of God`s Children in Christ!

Heather M. McCrae, MM MEd

Office: (301) 740-6184

Home- http://processdifferently.com

Neurodiversity Radio: http://www.authenticyouradio.com/Neurodiversity-Radio

E-mail: heather@processdifferently.com

Facebook: Heather M. McCrae, MM MEd

Twitter: @ProcessDiff

SKYPE: NeurodiversityCoach

Neurodiversity, Niche Construction and Reality

Neuro-of the brain

Diversity-the state or fact of being diverse;difference, unlikeness

Spring is such an important time! Winter is finally over and we can get outside and breathe, and do and create. Although I Coach others using the Principles of Neurodiversity, I use these principles in my own Life every day.

One of the most important things I can do to continue positively constructing my niche-my place in the world-is to get rid of the Nouns ( people, places and things) that don’t help me.

The most important aspect of Positive Niche Construction is staying in reality and paying attention to what that is, and what that means. Like many of my brothers and sisters in the Autism Mind Family, I can spend a lot of time in my Head. The unfortunate side-effect of this is that it tends to take me out of my body, and thus away from Reality.

Having Dreams and Goals, and Hopes is an essential part of Niche Construction! If I don’t have brain-storming sessions where I let myself think really big without fear or judgement, I am a very unhappy Creator!

One of the things that can happen to people like me, is that we can get so caught up in planning and brain-storming, that we are 10 years head in our head, rich, famous and successful. Then we get really, really angry that our Reality doesn’t meet our expectations right this minute!

It would be very funny if the Reality Check for so many of us wasn’t so painful! It hurts! There we are with our perfectly good ideas that we know will make our Life better, and the Lives of others as well, and then, BAM! Reality hits!  We don’t have the resources in place to construct our Big Idea and then we look around for someone to blame when our Life sucks!

Balance is so important for everyone-especially folks like me! We have to temper our dreams with a daily, moment-by-moment connection to and with Reality! It means I have to be willing to be patient while my head and body come back together. I must give myself Time and Space to create the very thing I am most passionate about-but from a place of Grounded Reality!

I am willing to take the steps necessary to be successful, and that means doing the work:

  • Brain storm-write down any and all ideas without editing or judging
  • Go over them again and make a list from that list that really turns me on, engages my Heart and Imagination
  • Make a plan-start with one thing and follow it through from beginning to end
  • Be patient! Allow things to unfold in Reality and be willing to do what is required for that to happen

I am so grateful to be the Neurodiversity Coach! These wonderful principles that Thomas Armstrong created are such a gift when applied in good order!

·          Success in Life Also Depends on Modifying Your Surrounding Environment to Fit the Needs of Your Unique Brain (Niche Construction)-Our individual responsibility to ourselves and each other is to make the most of our gifts and talents. Not only is it your job to create your niche in the world, by doing so, you are showing others that they can do it to! Don’t be afraid to do and be what your truth is! In order to be successful, you have to be fully you and create a life that really works for you-free of fear, shame, guilt and worry! Your success creates success for others too!

·               Niche Construction Includes Career and Lifestyle Choices, Assistive Technologies, Human Resources, and Other Life-Enhancing Strategies Tailored to the Specific Needs of a Neurodiverse Individual-It really is all about you and what you need! Are you making the most of your available resources? Are there people, places or things you haven’t looked at or considered utilizing to enhance your life experience or even meet your basic needs? Let’s explore your options to expand your life experience and give you greater success in all areas of your life, whatever that looks like for you! This could be anything from a Spiritual need, to a medical need to a social need. It’s your job to get your own needs met-let me show you effective ways to do that!

·         Positive Niche Construction Directly Modifies the Brain, Which in Turn Enhances its Ability to Adapt to the Environment-By making the decision to do the work required to make your life better, you are opening yourself to previously unconsidered possibilities and you will find greater success in ways you never imagined because that’s how it works! By seeking your True Life Purpose, or enhancing what you have, you will get what you asked for!

By utilizing these principles in grounded and practical ways, your Life will take you place you never imagined!

I am looking forward to working and playing with you!

Happy Spring!

Heather M. McCrae, MM MEd

Neurodiversity Coaching

Copyright © 2012 Neurodiversity Coaching

*Except The Neurodiversity Principles, which are the work of Dr. Thomas Armstrong, alone. Quoted from “Neurodiversity”. (http://www.thomasarmstrong.com/neurodiversity.php ) ©Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D. 2012, with permission of the author.

The application of these Principles, as explained here in my Coaching Practice is solely mine, and no inference is ever intended.

Parenting Different Thinkers is now a free class!

It is more important that you get this valuable information,

then it is for me to charge you for it!

Sign up today!

Parenting Different Thinkers

Neuro-of the brain, Diversity-the state or fact of being diverse;difference, unlikeness

I am truly pleased to offer this online course for parents of children who are Different Thinkers!

You know who you are! Your children are bright, amazing, challenging at times and very different from you! They are individual in their tastes and sometimes you want to throw up your hands and give up!

I have 20+ years experience working with Different Thinking children! I am a Masters-Level Special Educator, and previous to being a classroom Special Educator, I was a Nanny for many years. I know and Love children, and they know and Love me too!

This class is for you! Gain valuable, useable tools that really work! Minimize the drama and shift into gentle, clear and effective communication!

Click Here: Class Registration

When you are signed up for the course, you will receive a download-able workbook to use as we work and play together!

WHEN: Monday May 14th

TIME: 9pm e.s.t.

Bring a warm drink, your downloaded workbook, something to write with, questions, comments and concerns! We will talk, laugh and learn together!

I look forward to learning with you!

Heather M. McCrae, MM MEd

Neurodiversity Coaching

This website and its content is copyright of Neurodiversity Coaching -
© Neurodiveresity Coaching, Different Thinker, Different Thinkers, Mind Family and Mind Families TM 2012. All rights reserved.


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