00:00:06 Sana: There's a kind of tired. You don't talk about much. The tired that comes from pretending that you are fine while your brain is doing backflips to keep up with the world built for someone else. If you grew up dyslexic or ADHD or autistic or simply different in a way people didn't understand. You might know that tired, not tired from laziness, tired from effort, from masking, from overthinking, from trying to be normal enough to be safe. And here's the twist. What if the thing you spent years to trying to hide is also the thing that can make you dangerous in a in a good way? Just think about it, listeners. It can make you creative fast at pattern recognition. Strong under pressure. Big picture. Resilient. Today on this

00:01:09 Sana: episode of the Mindful Living podcast with your host Sana, we are talking about how dyslexia and many other neurodivergent abilities can move from problem to fix into advantage, to lead with, not romanticizing it. Not at all, listeners. Not by pretending that it's easy, but by getting practical about what actually helps. And listeners, let me tell you a bit about my guest. He grew up diagnosed with dyslexia in first grade. For years he believed that he was broken. Trying to catch up, trying to hide, chasing perfection, people pleasing, second guessing everything until he made a decision. If I'm going to live with this, I am going to lead with it. And now he is a high performance coach, helping dyslexic professionals and entrepreneurs turn self-doubt into confidence. Overthinking into clarity and stuckness into real momentum. Tools you can use immediately. So if you have ever, ever felt behind even when you were trying your hardest, I hope this episode is for you. So listeners, let's welcome our guest coach, Willie Blake. So, Willie, welcome to the show. And it's really, really an honor to have you here with us.

00:02:41 Coach Willie Blake: Oh, sauna. The honor is mine. Thank you for having me.

00:02:45 Sana: before we jump in, just just a quick grounding note for all the listeners here that, um, we're not doing diagnosis here, and we are not doing any toxic positivity here, listeners, but we are talking lived experience, mindset shifts and practical system, especially especially for people who have spent years feeling like they had to work twice as hard to be seen as enough. All right, so let's go. And Willie, um, you said, um, you you believe that you were broken for years. Um, I maybe to some extent I do understand because personally, um, my lived experiences wouldn't be enough to, uh, generally acknowledge that. But then I can understand from a very rational point of view. But then, uh, what specifically made you feel broken? Was it school, family, the people around you? Uh, the way people talk to you or the way you talk to yourself?

00:03:50 Coach Willie Blake: It would be the way that that people talk to me. And then the way that eventually I started talking to myself. Because growing up with dyslexia, undiagnosed ADHD, it was especially in the traditional school system where memorization, as well as just fitting into you got to do the essays and tests and you got to learn this certain way, and there's not really much creativity to it. It's like you follow what's in the textbook. Anything outside the textbook? Good luck for you. And so it's just from hearing that from other people and having the mind of. I feel smart, but because of the way that I'm wired, it's hard to communicate it outwards as well as the information of reading the textbook, of reading just books in general and and absorbing information. It took longer, and it made me, throughout elementary school and even into middle and high school, just made me feel that there was this disconnect of they wanted me this certain way, but it took me a little longer to get there. And because of that, I was considered slow. So they just so they'd be like, oh, Willie, you can do this. Just take a little extra time or have these extra tools that you can use, that you can take extra time on tests or take the notes from the professor's home. And I'm like, I just wanted to be a kid. I just wanted to be like all the rest of my friends who didn't need that extra stuff. And so then I started talking to myself and being like, wow, if everyone else is telling me that it's this way, maybe I'm that way too. And that's what led down to it.

00:05:32 Sana: Yeah, it makes sense, really, because, you know, that's that's where, um, when we talk about, I mean, yeah, I'm not dismissing labels or categories or, um, acknowledgement here, but then the kind of discrimination, I think that would be a hard word. But then the kind of differentiation that, you know, in terms of how people are, uh, talking to you, it it kind of feels more sympathetic and peripheral or like, you know, they're treating that you are absolutely weird and different. And especially and especially this is for people who, uh, would, I mean, with disabilities or Latinx or neurodivergent abilities, they would feel like, why am I being treated so differently just because of because people think that, you know, this kind of, uh, the special thing in me is kind of a disability or it's the weirdness. Uh, it's not, uh, meeting the standard templates of the society or it's not considered normal. I think that is something that I, I absolutely understand. It absolutely makes sense to me.

00:06:43 Coach Willie Blake: So, yeah. And if, if I may, there's this part of because this was we just didn't I think another part is we just didn't know the people who were either the teachers or the psychological individuals or the tutors. We just didn't know, like my parents, we didn't know. They didn't know what dyslexia was. And it was very hard for them the almost two decades ago, like we still we had a little bit more of an understanding, but not much. So today, now that we know a lot more about it, a lot more tools and resources. But back then, I think that kind of uncomfortability and just not really knowing how to react just came to a little bit of ignorance of just not knowing what exactly it was or how to handle it.

00:07:28 Speaker 5: Mm. Yeah, exactly. I agree with you.

00:07:31 Sana: Um, so now let's move on to, um, when people say that, you know, words matter, I mean, it can sound soft, but then for you, the label behind it, it shaped your identity. Uh, kind of a direct question. What did you have to stop doing? Um, either mentally or behaviorally, to finally get free from that identity?

00:08:02 Speaker 1: Hmm.

00:08:03 Coach Willie Blake: What did I have to. I love the way you. You asked that because a lot of people say we got to add something to the plate, but it's what? What do we take away? What do we stop doing? For me, the thing of stop doing was consistently telling myself that I wasn't good enough. And then amongst all of my friends who went to honors classes, and I had to go to the regular classes from the coworkers that explained something once that they were able to get it. But I had to ask clarifying questions and asked several times of how something works before I got it. Just feeling that feeling of I just felt different behind. And that was that was the mindset I had to draw. It was that I wasn't behind it all. It's just I was where I was at and my path is different from the next person. Yours is different from mine, mine, yours and everyone else who's listening. And when I finally accepted that of I'm where I'm at based off of what I'm doing, and I don't need to compare myself. That was the thing that I had to leave.

00:09:14 Sana: Yep. And I think it definitely lands because, uh, the real trap, it isn't the brain or the, uh, the technical difference here. I think it's it's, uh, living your whole life trying to earn normal. And I believe that the cost is enormous. I mean, and it's just me. Anxiety, burnout, um, self-doubt and and feeling like, you know, you are always just just one mistake away from being exposed. I mean, it can be a very, very challenging place to be in.

00:09:57 Coach Willie Blake: Yeah, absolutely. It's you feel that that difference, that not being normal, always having to catch up. And so just back then to what I'm doing now. It's like that. That was one of the big differences, was I'm just I'm just a human. And the way that my mind works is the way that my mind works. And I can move forward with that instead.

00:10:22 Sana: Superb. Uh, okay. Now, uh, you know, really also, let's look at the other side here. Um, a lot of people talk about, uh, neurodivergence. Like it's a superpower. It can be. I mean, uh, but then, you know, sometimes it can feel, um, dismissive when someone struggling. So what are the real advantages dyslexia can bring when that's the kind of the caveat in there when supported properly?

00:10:55 Coach Willie Blake: Yes. When supported properly. And you have the confidence with it. Dyslexia has a some really great advantages. The first one. Creativity It's being able to see things in more of a creative state, coming up with ideas, being able to find solutions. It's being able to see things. I didn't know this was a thing until recently, but people who are dyslexic have an easier time in their minds to think of 3D. When we talk about meditation or imaging, they can see it in 3D. They can see the mansion that they want, the grass that's in the front yard, the driveway. They can see the cars in the garage, they can see maybe a basketball court in the basement if that's what they want. But they just see this 3D image. And with creativity, it's one of those great advantages. Another one is perspective. They are really great at taking a step back and seeing the whole picture, rather than just the little puzzle piece in the puzzle. So the ones who are trying to solve this instant solution, the dyslexic and neurodivergence, they're taking that step back and saying, hey, this is a good solution for this, but long term this actually might hurt us. So let's come up with this different route. And we're able to think of those out of the box. Uh, out of the box solutions. And one last one amongst a bunch of them is the way they communicate. Because dyslexics, we've been through so much. So we have a lot of sympathy and empathy for people who are going through challenges because we get it. We know what it's like to hurt. We know what it's like to feel pain, but it's the ones who are able to take that pain and then be an example for other people and just have the heart and saying, hey, I know that you're going through this challenge. I know that you have cancer. I know that you had this miscarriage or that you're suffering from a job loss. I feel that way. I haven't gone through that exactly. But I know what a challenge is because I faced one my entire life. And instead of having that gap of people feeling alone, dyslexics are able to connect. And not that silver lining that people talk about with positivity. But actually on an emotional connect level, truly be a friend for them.

00:13:14 Sana: That's really amazing. Really really amazing. And in terms of, um, you know, the conditions, you know, especially like in the question when I mentioned, like when support it properly. Uh, what what what do you think are, uh, the common conditions required for that advantage to show up? Uh, you know, like environment tools or roles?

00:13:40 Coach Willie Blake: One of the best ones I've seen is for the person who is no divergent to do something that they love.

00:13:50 Sana: Okay.

00:13:51 Coach Willie Blake: Not really. It's kind of out there because usually it's like, well, if it's a career, like, what are some tools to help me with writing an email or what? AI stuff since it's popular. What can I do with that? Or like at home? What can I be able to do to build my relationship with my kids or my spouse or my fiance? Boyfriend girlfriend? And I have found through myself, as well as the clients that I've worked with, is that one of the best ways is to find something that you love doing and to do it. Because when you do something that you love, it builds your confidence. And when you build your confidence, a lot of the second guessing starts to diminish the effect of dyslexia from reading, writing, speaking or spelling, that tends to diminish. And there's a correlation. So when our mood is boosted and we feel more confident, we don't need to hide behind that wall that we've been hiding behind our entire life. But instead we're taking a little bit more risks and taking a little bit more chances. So, strangely enough, like that, that that one thing that I always tell people is find something you loved. Maybe even as a kid. Is it drying? Is it music? Playing the guitar, singing out loud? Whatever it is, do something you love, even for five minutes a day, and you'll start seeing that dyslexia and ADHD and autism and whatever it is that, uh, you have, it'll start to diminish a little bit. It won't go away, but you'll be able to handle it better.

00:15:35 Sana: I think this is a this is a key piece, key piece and key takeaway from this conversation. Um, and I, I mean, I don't know, I won't be able to quantify, but I so much, so much agree with you because especially the moment when you mentioned that, you know, because when you are doing something that you love, that confidence itself. It is a huge motivational booster. I mean, leave about the whatever out there is there on social media or, you know, people would tell. But when it starts with yourself, I think that should be the first step to do. Start with. So I absolutely am so happy that you shared that.

00:16:20 Coach Willie Blake: Yeah. It's like it's like coffee in the morning. A lot of people have coffee before they get up that that that little five minute thing. That's the coffee in the morning so that you can get up, you can get awake and be able to do everything else. Do that, do that, do that one thing that you love for five minutes and let that be the coffee to build your confidence so that the rest of the day you're able to perform.

00:16:41 Sana: Totally, totally. And this part is also, I believe it's it's kind of very interesting because you coach, uh, dyslexic professionals and entrepreneurs. Um, what's the most common invisible Struggle you see in high performance with dyslexia, you know, especially the ones, uh, who who are very much successful, uh, on, on paper. Externally.

00:17:09 Coach Willie Blake: The most common one I've seen is that they think that the system is against them, and they have to work extra hard to get to where they want to go. And I'm talking about people who haven't reached it, and people who have already reached a pillar of success that other people would be like, wow, that's amazing. But in their head they're just like, man, I gotta keep working hard. I gotta keep proving myself to other people because. Because man, I just, I this isn't enough yet. So the thing to go with that and that I found with the people I've worked with, is don't see the extra AI stuff that you have to use or the Grammarly or any tool that you have. Don't see it as something that has to be added to your plate for you to function. A lot of there's a lot of neurotypical people, um, people who don't have dyslexia or neurodivergent, they just have the normal stuff. And a lot of times we need extras. Myself and, uh, neurodivergent people, we need these extra things, and they hate it. They don't like these extra things. They don't like extra things on their plate. But I've thought about it this way, and it's the mindset shift that's helped a lot of successful entrepreneurs and professionals, which is it is just another toolbox. It's just another toolbox. Everybody gets their toolbox. They get the screwdrivers, the nails, the screws, they get all of that. But man, we get a second one, we get a second one. We get to test out what works for us. And that's what it comes down to, is that we get a second toolbox. But then eventually it's just like what works for us. What are the systems that work? We get to walk into the Home Depot of skills and systems and tools and everything, and pick out what we need. We don't need everything. We just need what works for us. And when the entrepreneurs and the professionals learn that, it's really whatever works for us to get the result done, that's the best path to be able to take to get the result. Then it lessens the burden of having to be be. In this analysis, paralysis of overthinking of everything has to be done. And actually start taking the steps forward.

00:19:33 Speaker 6: Mhm mhm.

00:19:35 Sana: I think this is that's kind of you know it so amazingly connects with the theme of mindful living because um if, if our ambition is fueled by fear or maybe, you know, the fear of missing out. Um, it will never feel like enough, but but, you know, if if it's fueled by self-trust, that inner self confidence, I think we can build something sustainable and still breathe while we do it.

00:20:09 Speaker 1: Um.

00:20:10 Coach Willie Blake: You nailed it. And breathe while you do it. If you're not breathing, it's kind of hard to to get things done. But when you are able to breathe and have the space to actually think, that's why I always recommend any ideas that you have. Write them on paper, because the more we keep up here, the harder it is to think of everything else. Just like when we finally release what has been in our head and we can finally breathe, well, then there's nothing else stopping us besides what we're thinking.

00:20:40 Speaker 6: Absolutely, absolutely.

00:20:42 Sana: That's a great point that you put forth. And, Willie, uh, before we wrap up, um, you said that if I was going to live with this, I was going to lead with it. Now, today, when you look back and now you see where you are, what does leading with it actually look like in real life, in your work, in relationships, in business as a human?

00:21:10 Coach Willie Blake: Yeah, it's embracing it. Just full hands out. Embracing the dyslexia, embracing that. I've loved Pokemon as a kid, embracing Pokemon in the strangest way. I love to be able to be on my laptop. I love having conversations like this with people. It's just embracing all the good, all the bad, the strengths, the weaknesses, the obstacles, the challenge, the joys and the peace. Like it's it's being able to really just be yourself. Whether you're standing on stage or whether you're on a podcast or just talking to a friend in all three of those places. Are you able to speak the same? And for a lot of people, and myself included. A couple of years back, I was like professional Willie on stage and then with my friends is the jokester Willie. And on podcast I got to be this something else. And then my mentors, just like you can have structure, but don't be so polished because the polish is what's separating you from your clients. And I'm like, that is one of the biggest revelations that I've been able to have is be the same everywhere you go. And man, when you don't have to hold up that mask of a smiley face when you're inside internally hurting and going through the pain. It is amazing how even the littlest of things in this beautiful world that we have today, that can just bring you some peace and joy and amongst chaos you can be like, man, I still have a house, I still have a bed, I have food and water and yeah, I it takes me forever to read a couple pages in a book. But man, it's a clear blue sky today and we're able just to to embrace it. It's a beautiful thing.

00:22:56 Speaker 6: Yeah, it's definitely it.

00:22:59 Sana: It was a very, very, very useful, very important advice. And I think it's it's for everyone out there. Um, and, uh, I absolutely appreciate Willie because, uh, you.

00:23:14 Speaker 6: Know.

00:23:17 Sana: It's not pretending about pretending that dyslexia is easy, but then it is about giving permission, language and tools to stop performing your worth. And then, you know, you start designing your life around how you actually work, not something else or some tool or someone else. So thank you so much, Willie. And of course, uh, course, for listeners, they would like to further connect with you and, uh, reach out to you. What would be the best way?

00:23:51 Coach Willie Blake: Yeah, the best way to connect with me. Go to my website and it'll have all the links to my socials. If you're wanting to work with me one on one, you'll have links there, as well as a free resource for people who listen to to my voice to help people break free and have the blueprint for dyslexics.

00:24:12 Speaker 6: That's amazing.

00:24:13 Sana: So, listeners, you heard it from Willie. I'll make sure to have all the links and the details mentioned in the show notes. So find them attached along with this episode on whichever platform you are tuning into your Mindful Living podcast. And uh, listeners, if this conversation made you feel seen, even a little, I just want to say this carefully. You were never, ever lazy. You were adapting and a lot of your quote unquote flaws were actually survival strategies that kept you safe. But then I think today's conversation, it was absolutely real and practical. And, um, I hope that, uh, this connected with you. And if you know someone who's quietly struggling with feeling different or behind, share this episode with them. It might be the first time they hear you're not broken. You are built differently. And you can still, still build a beautiful life. And of course, follow the mindful living. Not because we are here to fix you or anything, but just because these episodes are a place to breathe, reflect, introspect, and build a more sustainable inner life. One honest conversation at that time. So thank you so much, listeners, and keep tuning in to the Mindful Living. Until next time. This is your this is your host signing off. Thank you.