The Easily Distracted Entrepreneur - 168. My Neurodivergent Brain with Ky Westcott

168. My Neurodivergent Brain with Ky Westcott

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02/24/23 • 57 min

The Easily Distracted Entrepreneur

Ky Westcott, an East Coast boy with a West Coast heart, embarks on a neurospicy journey to come to terms with his ADHD, high functioning anxiety, and depression while discovering the power of negotiation and knowledge to overcome his mental health challenges.

In this episode we discuss:

How to navigate and manage mental health with neurodivergence, particularly in the black community.
The importance of validating one's own feelings and emotions, and how to apply that knowledge in the future.
The power of working with your brain, focused attention, and excitement in achieving extraordinary results.

Kai Westcott is a mental health humorist, director, digital creator, writer, and producer. He has been documenting his neurospicy journey for the past year and uses his social media platforms and website to share his journey and lend his platforms to other people.

If you love hearing about people’s journey’s you might like these other interviews in the “My Neurodivergent Brain” series.

https://amberhawley.com/my-neurodivergent-brain-with-annie-ruggles/

Find out more about The Vibe With Ky: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevibewithky/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyruskeenanwestcott/ Website: https://thevibewithky.com/

Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsamberhawley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsamberhawley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsamberhawley/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsamberhawley LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/amberhawley Website: https://amberhawley.com/ Loved this episode? Share it with a friend. Chapter Summaries:

[00:00:49] Ky Westcott is a mental health humorist, a director, a digital creator, writer, producer. He is also the person that introduced me to the term neurospic. Anything to do with mental health or entertainment or social media, kai's your guy. Listen to the actual interview. [00:04:25] The Vibe with kai has been documenting his neurospicy journey for the past year. Kai has all three ADHD, high functioning anxiety and severe depression. He loves inviting mental health professionals onto his platform to give out their insight. [00:06:27] I didn't even find out until I was 41 that I had ADHD. Now that I have a better understanding of a lot of it, I realize that I'm thankful that it did happen. I don't know what kind of person I would be today if it weren't for my journey. [00:12:24] There is not a lot of research behind black people and mental health. For so many people of color, what they're going through is discounted. There's tons of misdiagnoses that are happening to this day because there's just no research behind it. [00:16:57] I think it's also we're experts in ourselves, right? We know our particular, like how we do things. Sometimes we need help seeing those patterns or getting unstuck. And so when so I know it's only been a year, I'm actually surprised. [00:17:44] How does ADHD how has it challenged you? How is it a challenge? And then how have you adapted the way you do business or the way that you do projects to deal with that? [00:25:12] Kai: Your feelings, your thoughts are always down. You are feeling that way for a reason. What you have to do then is figure out what you're going to do with those thoughts in those fields. When you can do that, you can validate other people's feelings. [00:28:20] One of the most positive things in having ADHD is like the creativity. When you hyper focus, like you said, that's where the magic happens. I try to use my hyper focus to my advantage because one of the things that I've been really pushing myself to do is to live in the moment. [00:34:56] 100%. As a virgo and somebody who my ADHD is called Over Focused, that organization gives me calm. At work, I was often reluctant to do things that I knew I should be doing. The more we understand ourselves and how our brains work, it can be so freeing. [00:41:39] Amber: At what age does it seem kind of messed up that I still pull all nighters to get stuff done? Ky: I find that balance because there are lots of reasons why it's not good and it's unhealthy. When I'm finding this balance, I don't fight it. [00:46:16] I want to always add some sort of levity to the conversation about mental health because it is such a very serious thing. I just want people to be able to watch my stuff and just know that they're not alone. We shouldn't be afraid to talk about it. [00:53:03] Amber: What advice would you give to somebody struggling with feeling like they're not good enough? Ky: Your feelings are valid. Once you fully recognize that you can do an...

In this episode we discuss:

How to navigate and manage mental health with neurodivergence, particularly in the black community.
The importance of validating one's own feelings and emotions, and how to apply that knowledge in the future.
The power of working with your brain, focused attention, and excitement in achieving extraordinary results.

If you love hearing about people’s journey’s you might like these other interviews in the “My Neurodivergent Brain” series.

https://amberhawley.com/my-neurodivergent-brain-with-annie-ruggles/

Find out more about The Vibe With Ky: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevibewithky/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyruskeenanwestcott/ Website: https://thevibewithky.com/

Previous Episode

167. A Pep Talk For When Fear and Self-Doubt Make You Question Your Path

We all need a pep talk from time to time. You are worthy, sometimes business and life is a slog and it doesn't mean anything about you or your value.

In the words of Dory, "Just Keep Swimming."

This week only, grab a year of support for only $777.

https://amberhawley.com/innercircle/

Next Episode

169. 5 Keys to Increasing Resilience and Achieving Your Big Goals With Lexi Soulios

Join therapist and growth strategist Lexi Soulios as she shares the five keys to building resilience as an entrepreneur, from assigning meaning to events in our lives to developing creative adaptability.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Delve into the intricacies of Daylight Savings and its role in today's world.
Boost your mental fortitude by examining the importance of resilience in overcoming challenges.
Develop greater acceptance and understanding of neurodivergent individuals within your community.

My special guest is Lexi Soulios

Lexi Soulios is a skilled therapist and growth strategist who has dedicated her career to helping leaders and visionaries push past their stubborn blocks and achieve their next level goals. With her unique combination of therapeutic and coaching strategies, Lexi has guided countless individuals in overcoming personal obstacles and unlocking their full potential. Her work has been featured in well-respected publications like Forbes, the Huffington Post, and Bustle Magazine. As an expert in her field, Lexi has the ability to transform lives by helping people tap into their own resilience, enabling them to achieve their big dreams.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

Register for the free training Designing Your Perfect Work Week on Monday, March 27 at 05:00 P.m. Pacific on Amberholly.com.
Check out Lexi Soulios's website to learn more about her approach to therapy and growth strategy.
Consider working with a therapist or coach to help clear stubborn blocks and achieve big goals.
Practice assigning positive meanings to the events of your life, especially when facing challenges or setbacks.
Prioritize foundational body care, such as getting enough sleep, eating well, and engaging in physical activity.
Build a robust support network of people who can provide emotional support and practical help.
Connect with your authentic self by engaging in self-reflection, identifying your values and priorities, and setting boundaries.
Practice creative adaptability by being open to new ideas, embracing change, and staying flexible in the face of challenges.

Nurturing Resilience: Cultivating a Positive Mindset and Self-Care Habits A key aspect of nurturing resilience is fostering a positive mindset, which involves looking for the silver lining in difficult situations, practicing gratitude, and prioritizing self-care. Self-care habits such as maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and setting aside time for relaxation promote overall well-being, thereby enhancing one's resilience. Lexi Soulios emphasized that self-compassion and cultivating mindfulness are key in nurturing resilience. She shared insights on how learning to be in the present moment and practicing self-love can have a profound effect on an individual's ability to face challenges with grace and determination. Lexi also discussed the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing personal needs, as this enables individuals to manage stress effectively and focus on their well-being.

Building Resilience: Strategies for Overcoming Adversity Developing resilience is an ongoing process that involves cultivating inner resources and honing one's emotional skills. By nurturing these abilities, individuals can better navigate through adverse situations, regulate their emotions, and maintain a sense of balance in the face of challenges. Strategies for building resilience include setting realistic goals, honing one's communication skills, practicing gratitude, and seeking support from others. Lexi Soulios shared her personal experiences and insights on building resilience, emphasizing that self-compassion and vulnerability are vital components in this journey. She encouraged listeners to acknowledge their emotions and work on understanding the underlying causes of their reactions in order to foster growth. By doing so, individuals can create space for new perspectives and habits, ultimately increasing their ability to bounce back from adversity.

Understanding Resilience: The Key Traits and Characteristics Resilience represents the ability to bounce back from adversity and navigate through challenges in life. Individuals with high resilience embrace change, maintain a positive outlook, and possess an innate capacity to learn and grow from their experiences. Interestingly, resilient people not only persevere in times of adversity, but they also tend to emerge stronger and more capable than before. Guest Lexi Soulios shared her thoughts on the key traits of resilient individuals, noting that possessing emotional awareness, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to adapt are essential. She also emphasized the importance of supportive relationships in cultivatig resilience, as these connections offer encouragement a...