Are You Living the Life YOU Chose, Or One Chosen for You?
We're taught from the beginning to "follow this path" regardless of our brains.
We spend much of our lives playing the cards we're dealt, guided—sometimes gently, sometimes forcefully—down paths that others have laid out for us. Our education system, family expectations, societal norms, all subtly (or overtly) push us toward conformity.
Eventually, we internalize a quiet, invisible message: "This is just the way things are." That's the voice of learned helplessness.
You might not consciously label it a 'victim mindset,' yet that's precisely what it becomes. Acceptance turns into complacency. Complacency turns into resignation. Before you realize it, you're drifting on a path designed by others, feeling trapped but unsure why.
Maybe for you, it was the conventional milestones—pursuing college, careers, promotions, buying homes, chasing possessions, or filling life with distractions because that's what 'success' is supposed to look like.
Or perhaps it was a quiet realization that your unique, divergent brain—ADHD, autism, or both—didn't align with that prescribed path. For me, it was receiving an ADHD diagnosis at age 40. Back then, awareness was limited. ADHD meant medication, not a new understanding of my life's trajectory. Thankfully, the past decade has shifted conversations profoundly.
The reality is this: What you've been handed may shape your brain, but it doesn't have to dictate your path.
Awareness is the first step.
Unlearning is intentional and difficult—but achievable.
Choosing a new path begins when you notice you've been on autopilot, and it's no longer sustainable.
I'm curious—when did you first recognize that the life you were living wasn't truly your own design? How did you take back the power to choose your path?
Join the Conversation:
This week's Brainstorm Blitz prompt is "Learned Helplessness." Whether you're defining it, sharing strategies to break free, or exploring related tangents, your perspective matters.
Click here to RSVP or join us live tomorrow (March 13th, 11 AM Mountain Time)—let's explore together. Or comment below to suggest your own angle—we might pivot the discussion around your insights!