28/02/2023
A couple of years ago, I realised that the wind really dysregulates me.
👉 Dysregulated just simply means being in a stress response of some kind.
As an autistic person, I am affected by the wind, but I didn’t know this for most of my life though because I didn't know about being autistic 🤷🏻♀️
(Not all autistic people are affected by the wind or affected by it in the way that I am)
But I realised that windy days would really unsettle me and result in me feeling quite rattled and on edge, kind of a bit overwhelmed, irritable, and less able to cope with normal daily tasks and activities.
This was a major breakthrough for me and saying, "the wind dysregulates me" or "the wind really messes me up", felt helpful and protective 🙌🥰
It meant that I would pay attention to the weather and look at the weather forecast or take a step outside in the morning. And then take the relevant steps that would support me on windy days like driving instead of walking.
At that time, saying the wind really messes me up was really powerful and supportive.
But after two years of saying this on repeat, I realised that the wind was REALLY messing me up... far more than it ever had 😩
Because, through my thinking, I had deepened the belief and that particular neural pathway in my body.
So what started out as a helpful thought had become an unhelpful one.
I decided I wanted to create a new relationship with the wind.
So I made it a goal, and did it.
And I now have a different relationship with the wind 🥳
It doesn't have the impact on me that it had. I have a greater capacity to experience the wind. I can go out in the wind and it doesn't dysregulate me to the degree that it used to or at all.
Simply because I decided that's what I wanted and I changed my thoughts.
It really was that simple.
Episode 112 of The Maisie Hill Experience dives even deeper into auditing your thoughts.
In it, I've included a step-by-step process to help you assess if it’s time for a thought upgrade. Tune in today!