Why You’re Not A Failure, and Other Important Truths

Challenging what it means to be successful and productive

Created by author

Reframing and refreshing

We neurodivergent (ND) folks can be hard on ourselves.

We come by it honestly.

Many of us were told our entire lives that we’re “overly sensitive”, “lazy”, “difficult”, or various iterations of how we don’t measure up to some arbitrary standard.

They’re bullshit, folks.

The whole adults are “supposed” to do x, y, or z is something completely made up. Oftentimes these expectations revolve around productivity and “contributing to society”.

You know who wants and needs us to do that? Rich folks who profit off our labour, efforts, and consumption of goods and services. That’s who.

So, who benefits when we “contribute to society”? Not us, unless we’re doing something we actually want to do and truly enjoy.

This productivity-at-all-costs approach to life is unhealthy for everyone, but in particular for ND folks. It is especially counter-productive for those of us who have a bit of an oppositional reflex (or a very strong sense of independence), or for those who have a PDA profile.

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What do I mean by that?

The idea that we “have” to do something, especially when that demand or pressure comes from outside ourselves, can really cause us to dig in our heels.

And why shouldn’t it? Why should a society which revolves around exploitative labour tell me how to live a worthwhile life?

Clearly the powers that be in our capitalist culture don’t have my best interests at heart, unless my being healthy and “productive” translates into profit for them.