Unmasking & Aligning: My Journey of Embracing Neurodivergence

For most of my life, I felt like I was running a race with invisible hurdles—constantly overthinking, second-guessing myself, and, at times, sabotaging my own success before I even got started. I thought this was just how life was, that I was too much in my head, too scattered, or just not disciplined enough. I tried to push harder, force myself into systems that didn’t work for me, and play by rules that seemed to come naturally to everyone else but felt impossible for me.

It wasn’t until recently that I finally had a name for what I was experiencing: neurodivergence. And even more recently that I began to accept it.

Growing up in a Mexican household, neurodivergence wasn’t something I ever saw represented. It wasn’t talked about. There were no role models or conversations about how some people’s brains work differently—only expectations to push through, focus, work harder, and make it happen. Struggles with attention, focus, or sensory overload were often dismissed as personality quirks or weaknesses.

So, I masked. I learned how to act like I had it all together, even when my mind was overwhelmed. I became hyperaware of my habits, my distractions, my “shortcomings,” and overcompensated by trying to do everything perfectly.

And honestly? That led to burnout. To self-sabotage. To a cycle of working against myself rather than with myself.

The Process of Unlearning

Coming to terms with my neurodivergence has been a process—not just in understanding what it means but in unlearning years of internalized pressure to “fix” myself.

I’ve had to remind myself that:

✅ My productivity doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

✅ My brain isn’t broken; it’s just wired differently.

✅ I can create a system that works for me, even if it doesn’t follow the standard way of doing things.

I won’t pretend I have it all figured out, because I don’t. I still catch myself slipping into old patterns—overthinking decisions, questioning my abilities, or feeling like I need to prove myself. But something is shifting.

I’m getting aligned.

I’m learning to work with my brain instead of against it. I’m allowing myself to thrive in the way that comes naturally to me, instead of forcing myself to fit into an expectation that was never meant for me in the first place.

Letting Go of Social Standards

For so long, I measured my success by standards that weren’t made for me. I thought that if I wasn’t keeping up with the “hustle,” if I wasn’t meeting productivity expectations in the traditional sense, then I was failing.

But I’m realizing now that success on my terms doesn’t have to look like success on anyone else’s.

Letting go of social standards doesn’t mean I don’t strive for growth, but it means I’m learning to embrace how I grow. I’m trusting myself more. I’m allowing myself to operate in the way that feels right—even if it doesn’t fit the mold.

To Anyone Else on This Journey

If you’re reading this and you’ve ever felt like you don’t fit into the expectations placed on you—especially if you grew up in a culture where neurodivergence wasn’t acknowledged—I want you to know:

You are not alone. Your brain isn’t broken. You don’t have to change yourself to be successful. The world needs your mind, your vision, your way of doing things.

Alignment isn’t about forcing yourself to fit—it’s about finally accepting yourself as you are.

And that’s where the real magic happens.