Stop Trying to be ‘Normal’ – Are you masking? What’s the best strategy?

If you have tried the ‘just be yourself’ strategy then you’ve probably realized it’s not such a simple matter. But what’s the alternative? What does it mean to ‘try to be normal’? What is “normal?” Trying to be normal could mean trying to do what everyone else does and following the strategies that work for other people. But you might soon realize that no one strategy could continuously work. Still, I realize that I can use any strategy as long as when I am trying to be someone else, I still know who I am and I still like who I am.

🎞️Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction
1:26 Reframing the question of “What is Normal?”
2:08 To Blend in or to Stand out?
4:56 Failed Attempts to Connect
5:41 The Persona or Mask Strategy
6:35 Physical Presence vs Feeling Connected
6:44 Successful Connection?
7:58 What are the costs of standing out?
8:44 What are the costs of blending in?
9:30 The Camouflage Strategy
10:57 What is the best way to do it?
11:57 Making the Trade-Off Healthy
13:09 The Inner Dialogue
14:22 The quote that says it all

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👋Welcome to Autism From The Inside!!!

If you're autistic or think you or someone you love might be on the autism spectrum, this channel is for you!
I'm Paul Micallef, and I discovered my own autism at age 30.

Yes, I know, I don't look autistic. That's exactly why I started this channel in the first place because if I didn't show you, you would never know.

Autism affects many (if not all!) aspects of our lives, so on this channel, I want to show you what Autism looks like in real people and give you some insight into what's happening for us on the inside. We'll break down myths and misconceptions, discuss how to embrace autism and live well, and share what it's like to be an autistic person.

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