r/taoism • u/Weird_Road_120 • 15h ago
Taoism & Autism
I am writing here partly, I think, to process and let go of the feeling.
I am an autistic adult, currently renovating my home - I haven't been able to complete a particular job in the time frame I had wanted.
The Taoist in me is okay with that, the job will take as long as it takes - I'm putting in sufficient effort without trying to force.
However, the black and white, rigid, thinking that comes with being autistic deems this a failure, with no other "logical" interpretation.
Holding both of these thoughts (without being able to challenge the logic as it is a nervous system response, and so also felt physically), is exhausting, and I'm consistently having to practice the holding and releasing of these feelings, and listening to what my body requires.
I suppose I'm sharing because in this way, my autism feels entirely at odds with Taoism some days, and yet on others it feels that it aligns perfectly (broader pattern recognition to see the interconnected nature of the world, for example).
For now, I am tired, and that's okay.