I’m feeling very overwhelmed and quite deflated today. A few things have been building up around work and my health that are making me very anxious and stressed.
I wanted to write this post to celebrate my autism superpowers and remind myself and other people reading, whether you are autistic or neurodivergent yourself, or perhaps a curious ally, that you are amazing and unique even when you are feeling at your worst.
Being autistic means that I process and experience things in a different way to someone who is neurotypical. A lot of focus around autism in general when you are reading online, can be more towards how someone with autism differs from how a neurotypical person can experience life, often showing how we can find it harder to navigate life.
I want to shout out and celebrate some of my differences that I believe are my superpowers and explain why I think they make me unique in a positive and uplifting way. Navigating life can be tough, but my differences also come with some amazing strengths.
I am an empath
My empathy levels are very strong. I can feel someone else’s mood when I am in a room with them. If someone is feeling anxious, I can sense this and help support them when they need it.
If someone is feeling sad, I can comfort them. If someone is feeling happy and excited, I can share in their joy and build them up even more. I can sense energy in a room and can see images and colours of the energy in my head when I’m speaking to people.
One of the most intense parts of my empathy is that I can physically feel other people’s pain in my own body. If someone is hurt in front of me, it can be overwhelming, like my body is mirroring their experience.
While this can be a lot to handle, it also gives me a deep understanding of what others are going through. It helps me connect with people on a meaningful level, see things from their perspective, and offer genuine support. I’ve learned to protect my energy where I can so I’m able to show up for others when it really matters.
I have enhanced senses
Having enhanced senses can be overwhelming in many situations but I love how I can smell things that no one else can and pick up sounds that other people can’t.
Recently, my husband and I were sitting in bed and I could hear this beeping noise and couldn’t work out what it was. He couldn’t hear anything! We did an investigation and it was coming from the other side of the house, from our next door neighbour. My husband could only hear it if he went and put his head to the wall.
When walking around my local neighbourhood, I can smell delicious food cooking smells that other people can’t pick out.
I love smelling things in my house that smell like home and find it really comforting. My favourite smells at home are my husband, my cats’ fur and my favourite cuddly toys. Smelling these smells, grounds and comforts me in a way that I can’t get through other means.
I love hard
I connect strongly with people and things that I love. If I deem someone worthy of my love, I will love them 110%. There is no middle ground. I will have your back, support you and put my all into the relationship.
This does have its downsides because sometimes my love has been misplaced and I have given it freely to people that don’t deserve it or can’t provide it back, or I’ve completely mis-read the friendship and someone isn’t on the same page as me.
It’s so worth it though because I find joy in helping others achieve their goals and be happy. My cats are very lucky babies and get constant love and fuss throughout each day.
I have a strong sense of intuition
One of my favourite superpowers is my intuition. Until recently, it had been blocked and I wasn’t able to access it as often. I’ve had some therapy recently and have been able to access it again, which has been wonderful. My next blog post will go into more detail about therapy and what I have learnt through having it.
I’ve tuned in to this feeling I get when I know something is the right decision or idea. It feels like a warming sensation in my chest and in my brain feels like a space is opening up. When I trust my intuition and follow it, it makes me feel happy and gives me a strong sense of self-worth.
I trust in my intuition and know that ultimately it will lead me in the right direction as I navigate my life.
I get a buzz from tapping into my creativity
I’m at my happiest and most productive when I am able to tap into my creativity. This is something that has taken me many years to realise but now that I have, it’s a game changer!
It took me a while to realise that creativity comes in many forms, and mine didn’t have to involve a paintbrush. My brain often feels stuffed to the brim, like it’s bursting and it’s because my creative energy is stuck and unable to move.
I love coming up with new ideas, ways of doing things and challenging the norm. I find it fun and a great way to channel my creativity, leading to a boost of energy.
One example of this is that I really enjoy organising events for loved ones. Everything from the invites, itinerary, theme, decorations etc, bring me joy. It’s a bonus then seeing other people really happy from it at the end of it.
Another is writing this blog. I love writing about my experiences and sharing how I experience the world with others.
I enjoy keeping it silly
I’ve been accused of not acting my age on many occasions. I don’t understand why I need to act a certain way because I am a certain age or do or not do certain activities because it’s not expected of me as an adult. Keeping it silly and embracing my authentic self, brings me and people that I am close to a lot of fun and happiness.
I love laughing! My husband is the best at making me laugh and loves acting in a silly way to make me laugh. I love skipping down the street and singing if I want to, I love playing with my cuddly toys, making forts, learning to skateboard and not being embarrassed because I like things other people don’t or have “grown out of”. Life is too short not to laugh or take things too seriously. Being silly and having fun is infectious and I love how it brings light into other people’s lives too.
So there you have it. I am an empath, I have enhanced senses, I love hard, I have a strong sense of intuition, I get a buzz from tapping into my creativity and I enjoy keeping it silly.
Celebrating my autism superpowers isn’t about showing off or being arrogant, it’s about embracing what makes me who I am, and not being afraid to be my authentic self. I’ve ignored some of my authentic self for many years and I’ll be making it up for it for many years to come!
Everyone has their own unique superpowers, whether they have autism or they don’t and I’d love to encourage everyone to take a look inside and see what theirs are too. I’m very interested to hear from other people about their superpowers. Please do share.
Much love, Rachael xx
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