In the past year, I have been working on getting better at establishing at balancing my wants and needs. Eventually, I had to learn to focus on what is important to me. It is essential to ignore what others say or think. This is crucial for maintaining my own mental health and clarity. Just because something is or is not the way that someone thinks does not mean it works for you. Similarly, just because someone does not want to do things a certain way does not keep things aligned for you.

As hard as it is for me to make the true connection and friendship that can be needed. It has also been hard for me to have the candid conversations I need to have. These conversations are about the realities that are a part of me. As much as people strive for connection, it can sometimes dilute the mental health and clarity needed for success. Over the years, it has been hard to find the balance of what is needed. Eventually, knowing and understanding what is needed for me is important. Recognizing what someone does not want can make all the difference. This understanding helps you achieve your own mental stability. It prevents you from striving to be something unattainable.

I realized that things that happened in the past were due to not understanding what really needs to happen. They need to be understood for what needs to occur. It can be hard to accept that others say things that do not align with your needs. Still, it takes knowing what is needed for you to be successful. You must focus on what truly makes you work best in real life. Don’t base it solely on a conversation or how others function.

Your life is yours to live. It is not determined by what others think it should be for you. As autistic people, it can be easy to do things just to experience life as others do. You seek a connection because of how it makes you feel. But you need to ask yourself a question. What is the true cost of this? How is it bringing you down? Yes, people can agree to disagree. Still, is it really worth taking a connection to a level that can be pointless? It can be destructive to your mental health. These are things that need effort to set boundaries. Understand that not everyone will see or understand things the way you do.

Ultimately it is understandable that you have to do what is best for you and your mental health. This lets you function in the way that you want and need to. Sometimes you need to look past what you are told about the things you need in your life. These things can sustain you in the best way. Value what matters most to you. Avoid things that bring short-term pleasure or relief without understanding how detrimental unhealthy thinking can be.