Finding Your Voice In An Overwhelming World: By Joshua Smith

My story starts like many others born in the late eighties and nineties who were overlooked and not diagnosed: I grew up confused, in a public school, and had very little to no friends most of my school years. I had several versions of IEPs (individual educational plans giving me adaptations in school) done over the years from the time I was six years of age. I knew that I was different from others because of how I looked at the world and how I engaged with social situations (in a not-so-healthy way). Still, I had a keen thirst for new knowledge and an above-average ability to analyze, decipher, and interpret vast amounts of information.

Looking on the outside as an adult, you would almost think I am average looking individual: I have a stable, full-time job with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, own a small business that helps in the personal and professional development of individuals and businesses called Your Speaking Voice LLC (www.yourspeakingvoice.biz), and lead an independent life that is self-sufficient with a wide variety of different interactions with the outside world.

However…I struggled with feeling a sense of “not feeling good enough.” It was not only due to a series of events growing up that led to an inevitable moment in my life where I wanted to end my life. I realized it was because I was experiencing autistic burnout (https://psychcentral.com/autism/autistic-burnout#signs). It opened my eyes to the very real possibility that I may be a late-diagnosed adult on the autism spectrum. After bringing this up with my therapist and being tested by a neuro-psychologist, it was confirmed. I am autistic.

Fast forward to the present…

Nothing about being on the spectrum is easy. The resources that you find as a late-diagnosed individual are still an evolving concept that still needs a ton of work, not only from a non-profit perspective but from a corporate perspective as well. Many resources of a medical nature only focus on the ability to function physically, with some occupational therapy available, albeit limited, to help with retraining how to address situations that you may face. Additionally, not only do you have to be an advocate for yourself, but you create opportunities in your life, including new communities, that allow you to function correctly and find resilience in some of the moments when life can be extremely tough. Not all days are good days; embracing those moments to stay firm and committed is where it counts the most. From an objective, caring point of view, an extra layer of support is where you can progress in many facets of your personal and professional life.

That’s where my business knowledge and experience can fit in for you.

Suppose you are looking for that “void” that you may have in your life and need that extra accountability to feel empowered to change the trajectory of this overwhelming world. In that case, the assistance of a coach can make a huge difference in not only setting goals but also reframing actions that you may be contemplating to help put your physical and emotional manifestation at ease. Some of those areas, particularly in life coaching, can include:

• Forming basic routines & habits and changing unhealthy behaviors (morning, afternoon, and evening routines);
• Setting goals (short and long-term);
• Having balance & management of balance (in work, personal recharging time, and social interaction);
• Decision-making processes and defusing difficulties in making them;
• Rest & relaxation techniques and addressing struggles; and
• Accountability strategies/boundary-setting to help with the day-to-day and long-term achievements you wish to make.

Regardless of what you may aspire to work on and your styles of processing sensory environments and information, everyone has an equal opportunity to be successful. It does not matter how many IEPs, bad days, or number of times that you have tried…quantity does not matter. Living your best version of who you are supposed to be, regardless of your background, makes YOU bring order from the chaos you may feel.

Joshua is a sought-after keynote speaker, workshop presenter, and advocate for a wide range of personal and professional development opportunities.  Through his business, Your Speaking Voice LLC, the mission of the company is to find our “voice” in this ever-changing world, channeling the values of relationships, confidence, and determination to advocate for new opportunities.  His extensive career in state government and non-profit work has propelled him with unique perspectives to help a wide variety of clients to achieve ultimate success in their own versions of themselves, and within their organizational missions they are achieving.  To learn more, visit www.yourspeakingvoice.biz for a list of services, additional information about the business, and to listen to the podcast “Speaking From The Heart”, a show that engages in authentic conversations about personal and professional stories of success.