The Strength Of Autism - Self-Improvement On The Spectrum with Nathan Hall
Channel: Thomas Henley
Date: 2023-03-19

How can you develop yourself as an autistic adult in a neurotypical world? Should you take advice from the general media or even close ones? How can you craft a life and persona that reflects your dreams or ideals?

Nathan Hall (@ThePhysioBox) is an ex-professional Taekwondo fighter, NHS high-security hospital ward worker, and physiotherapist based out of Manchester, UK. With a master's degree in strength and conditioning and a flair for lifestyle coaching, Nathan seeks to share his knowledge of sports with the world.

Nathan’s Website - ⁠⁠https://www.thephysiobox.net/⁠ // My Links - ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thomashenleyUK⁠⁠

This podcast episode is filled with useful lessons for Autistic adults who are struggling to move forward with their lives and manage the expectations of the neurotypical world held against them.

Nathan Hall describes his journey to an Autism and ADHD diagnosis in his early 30s, and the two bond over their mutual experiences with the world of martial arts. Nathan started his athletic journey at the young age of 5, quickly finding a special interest in the sport and an attraction to the merit-based social landscape of Taekwondo training and competition. He was a part of the 2nd cohort of professional Taekwondo fighters in the United Kingdom and received numerous decorated medals throughout his life.

The two contemplate the difficulty of understanding your traits as an individual with a dual diagnosis (AuDHD), and how these labels can be used as support from the medical system, but also a source of identity and validation for many people. Thomas raises how the social systems and norms in place can make it difficult to advocate for your needs and succeed in life as an autistic person.

Nathan is a big advocate for self-employment, touting the autistic experience of hyper-focussing on subjects of interest as a useful way to specialise within the working world. The conversation around the importance of knowing yourself and having a clear goal in life provided insight into how a growth mindset allows you to craft a life and an outward persona you feel best represents who you are.

They talk about managing relationships with neurotypical individuals, highlight the common phase of ‘hating neurotypicals’ that many autistic people experience due to negative school experiences… and also how the traps that come with trusting and assuming the best intentions can end badly. Thomas describes shades of grey involved with all aspects of life, and how rigid life outlooks or mottos can be very ineffective for the complex experience of life. 

They end on an inspirational and validating conversation about how socially set milestones, social expectations, and social media can warp your view of what you should be achieving at different ages in life. It can often feel suffocating, demoralising, and pressuring to fit into the molds others prescribe to us… often these can stop us from living life at our own pace and creating the beginning of our own success stories in life.

We see the athletes on the podium, hear the successful speakers/entrepreneurs, and get the impression their life has been perfect, with no lows, no boring/difficult months of training, and with general life success… but that’s not the case and it’s ok not be at your ‘peak’ now. Make small incremental changes over the long term and slowly traverse the mixed box of chocolates that is life.

Song Of The Day (Listen Here) - ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5UDIyN5TSYN4zMcRoQPrG8?si=9255ed3480d840b5⁠⁠

Interview me, 1:1 Autism coaching, public speaking for events, workplace training  - ⁠⁠https://www.thomashenley.co.uk⁠