Confessions of a Lapsed Diagnosed Dyslexic - CareerEnlightenment.com

The Grist for the MillBecause I was unable to understand anything written, I was forced to perceive context based on social factors. I learned early on that most conversations could be understood with just a few simple questions. An internal logic could be extracted. This change in cognitive ability forced me to accept that many of the limiting beliefs in our lives may have once been true, but are no longer relevant. I also learned that in no time, I could draw conclusions about the educational material just as well as someone who had read the book. I kept pace in many class discussions with this skill alone.This resourcefulness is perhaps one of my biggest assets. I can walk into any new situation and quickly ascertain context and then, thereby, content. This skill has made me quite technically adept and an early adopter of many new applications and tools.Ive been told I have an intuition about people. For example, at networking events, I seem to just know who I need to meet and int roduce myself to. I have great success at finding the right people to talk to in a room, because most people I have met have become friends and allies in my life rather than just more business cards for the pile.These are just a few of the assets that I believe have come from these early experiences.Join the ClubI believe that Dyslexia and other learning issues have a great deal to do with the rate of neuro development, from childhood to adulthood. This change in cognitive ability has forced me to accept that many of the limiting beliefs in our lives may have once been true, but are no longer relevant.For example, Math and Language were two areas impossible for me to understand as a child. I took three years of Spanish in high school and never learned a thing.In rebellion, I decided to join a one-year language intensive program in Kathmandu, Nepal, during my junior year in college.After a year of home-stay and four hours of language study per day, I was fluent in Tibetan. Despite wh at the psychologists said and the difference in age and motivation was perhaps the largest factor. But I proved that my belief, Ill never learn another language needed to be discarded. What other beliefs needed to be discarded?This is a journey many successful dyslexics have gone through. John Chambers, probably the most influential CEO in the world, cannot read successfully. Anything more than a page gives him a migraine, so the mythology goes. So his executives either send him video or written 1-page briefs. John says his ability to communicate well stems from compensating for so many other things that he couldnt do well.Thomas Edison was alleged to have not finished high school. His skill was in organizing teams of engineers.No, Not That Club!Ok, I am NOT comparing myself to these icons. The club Im referring to is just the human club. Everyone has weaknesses, troubles or histories that they wish would go away. Many people are troubled with things about themselves every single d ay, things beyond their control, which make them feel unworthy.Even the writing of this small story has taxed everything inside of me to make sure my spelling is okay. And even now, Im sure Ive missed errors.So here is the nugget. Whatever your weakness is, embrace it. Find the lesson in it. Look for the patterns that it has caused in your life and find the blessing those patterns have bestowed upon you.