The Inflexible Mind - Adapting

One common issue with Asperger's and autism is rigid thinking--basically an inflexible mind. That's why change and disappointment is so difficult to deal with. It takes an awful lot to stretch the brain of an aspie.

I'm thankful that I've learned to adapt over the years. I've been able to understand others far better than I could before, and I'm generally open to new ideas. To prevent rigid thinking, I try not to take sides or have strong opinions about anything unless I've done extensive research and/or have a passion about it. My tendency to give the benefit of the doubt certainly helps balance it out so I won't be entirely hesitant or indecisive... though I can be naive sometimes. I'm prone to believing whatever I hear, so I try to find a good balance of being open to ideas while remaining somewhat skeptical.

My naivete has been a problem in the past, but I believe that I can transform it into something good--to stand out in positive way that doesn't inconvenience me. Where people are concerned, I don't want to let my naivete get the better of me. I've learned that it's okay to disagree with someone, and that I don't have to adopt everyone else's beliefs and morals so they'll like me more. I've found ways to be close to them while still remaining distant enough to be safe. In any case, my goal is to be an open book in the library of secrets we live in; and to be a welcoming, unprejudiced person among the crowds of picky and private people... and yet still protect my mind from those who may want to stuff weird things into it.

Despite my slow crawl towards the status of "normal", there are things about me that I will never want to give up. I've been told before that there's something different about me, and I plan on keeping it that way.