Ever wondered if you could turn the challenges of a mental health condition into a unique strength in your life and career?

In "Bipolar & Business with Rosie Burrows," that's exactly the question we're tackling head-on.

Rosie, a successful entrepreneur who navigates the highs and lows of bipolar disorder every single day, knows firsthand that the journey isn't easy. But she also believes that with the right tools and mindset, it's possible to not just manage your mental health, but to harness it as a catalyst for a fulfilling and successful life.

This isn't your typical self-help podcast. Rosie's not about sugarcoating the realities of bipolar disorder. She's lived through the dark nights and the dizzying highs, and she brings that raw honesty to every episode.

Join Rosie as she shares her personal story of building a thriving business while managing bipolar, offering practical strategies she's learned along the way.

She'll be sharing…

Conversations with fellow entrepreneurs: Hear from business owners who understand the unique challenges and opportunities of managing mental health in the entrepreneurial world.

* Insights from Rosie: Gain practical advice and strategies from professionals specializing in mental health and well-being.

* Discover how she has successfully reframed their mental health challenges into opportunities for growth and success.

* Focus on turning challenges into opportunities: Learn how to view mental health struggles not as limitations, but as potential sources of strength and innovation.

We are going to talk about leveraging the creative bursts that can come with bipolar's manic phases, building resilience to weather the storms, and creating a support system that truly understands your journey.

"Bipolar & Business with Rosie Burrows" is a space for honest conversations, practical advice, and a reminder that you're not alone.

It's about embracing your whole self, challenges and all, and using it as fuel to build the life and career you've always dreamed of.

This podcast will help guide you through reframing mental health into a super power and will remind you that your unique perspective is valuable and that success is not only possible but within reach.

Tune in and discover how to navigate the world of business and entrepreneurship, not in spite of bipolar disorder, but empowered by it. Let's redefine what's possible and build a brighter future, together.

Diary of a ADHD Strategist | ♉ +📣 =👂🏽 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Imagine a system designed to teach everyone the same way, with a focus on reading, writing, and memorization. Now, picture individuals like Jamie Waller, who naturally think differently.

Jamie is a dyslexic entrepreneur, who is also color blind and has ADHD. He is someone who might see the bigger picture, be great at problem-solving, or have a unique creative spark, but struggles with those traditional academic skills.

This is where the traditional education system often fails those with dyslexia, as Jamie himself experienced.

Here's what that looks like for individuals like Jamie Waller:

* The Misfit: A child, like the young Jamie, might be brimming with ideas and enthusiasm but starts to feel like an outsider when they struggle to keep up with their peers in reading and writing. Jamie recalls being told he was "thick" or "stupid" in an environment where dyslexia was not understood.

* The Withdrawal: Feeling misunderstood and constantly behind, a child, like Jamie, begins to withdraw from school. He "bunked" off for 16-18 months because he couldn't catch up. This led to a cycle where he fell further behind, losing confidence in his abilities.

* The Missed Potential: The system, as Jamie explains, is focused on measuring achievement through tests, levels and attainment. It does not recognise the unique strengths and talents that a dyslexic person might possess. Jamie believes that dyslexia has been the source of most, if not all, of his success. However, these skills may not be measured in the traditional education system.

* The Badge: Instead of fixing the system, it may label or "badge" individuals with dyslexia, providing some funding but not necessarily addressing the core issue of making education more inclusive for all learning styles. Jamie argues that the government is "giving dyslexia a badge rather than fixing the system".

But what if, instead of seeing dyslexia as a deficit, as the education system often does, we recognised it as a different way of thinking, as Jamie Waller suggests? What if we focused on unlocking the potential of these individuals, understanding that their brains are wired for exploration, innovation and problem-solving?.

* The Explorer: This different way of thinking might be what makes some dyslexic people successful in entrepreneurship. Jamie believes he and others with dyslexia are "explorers of society". He points out that dyslexic thinkers often display the traits of an entrepreneur.

* The Adaptor: Jamie Waller, for example, learned to compensate for his color blindness, which was not diagnosed until he was 24. Dyslexic individuals often learn to develop their own methods for navigating the world, and they often find creative ways to overcome challenges.

* The Innovator: They bring fresh perspectives and new solutions. As Jamie describes, he sees opportunities everywhere, and this has led to his success as an entrepreneur. What some call "weaknesses" are often the source of some of their greatest strengths.

The idea of "The Dyslexic Edge", as Jamie Waller suggests in his book, isn't about pretending that dyslexia is easy. It's not about promoting the idea that dyslexia is simply a superpower.

Instead, it's about highlighting that when the education system fails to see the unique potential of dyslexic individuals, it is society that is at a loss. It suggests a need to adapt the system to accommodate everyone's needs and allow each individual to thrive.

As Jamie says, "it's terrible that 15% of the population have dyslexia and to put us in a box simply has to stop".

So, "The Dyslexic Edge: Unlocking Potential" urges us to rethink how we approach education and embrace neurodiversity, drawing on the experiences of Jamie Waller and others.

By understanding why the traditional system fails dyslexic individuals, we can create a more inclusive and equitable environment where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential, just as Jamie has done in his life.

Diary of a ADHD Strategist | ♉ +📣 =👂🏽 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Have you ever felt like your mind is a whirlwind, constantly buzzing with thoughts and ideas? If you have ADHD, you might know this feeling all too well. In this episode, we chat with Cynthia Hauk, an ADHD strategist, who has discovered a powerful way to navigate the chaos and find calm: through mindful art.

Cynthia's journey with art started in her late teens and early twenties when she experienced anxiety and panic attacks. Instead of traditional meditation, she found solace in creating, drawing inspiration from the mindful approach of artist Bob Ross.

This wasn't about becoming the next Van Gogh, but rather about using the creative process as an "anchor point" to bring herself back to the present moment. She explains that this process is like meditation but using art as the focus, not breath.

Cynthia's experiences weren't just limited to anxiety; she also used art as a way to heal and cope during her cancer treatment in her late 20s. She discovered the power of intuitive collage, where she allowed images to “choose” her instead of actively searching for them.

This helped her connect with feelings for which she didn’t have words. She later trained in the practice and went on to teach others.

Over the years, Cynthia has seen how mindful art practices can help people of all ages and abilities, particularly those who struggle with verbal expression and/ or have challenges related to neurodiversity.

She shares stories of working with children, adults and those on the autistic spectrum, and how she adapts her approach to meet their individual needs, such as through alternative materials, and setting expectations. She gives the example of how she tailors the process for people with sensory sensitivities, like her nephew who finds the sound of pencils unbearable.

This podcast is not just for artists, it's about discovering how simple creative activities like drawing, painting, or collage can be used as a tool for self-care, emotional regulation, and stress reduction.

Cynthia provides a range of guided practices and prompts that use the art process, such as breath doodles which link breathing to drawing to create a meditative state. You'll also learn how adding music into the art making process can affect the creative process by offering a different medium for self-expression and focus.

Tune in to hear how Cynthia transformed her own life with mindful art and how you can start your own journey to find calm, creativity and focus, especially if you're dealing with the daily challenges of ADHD.

You will learn that mindful art isn't about perfection; it's about the process. It is about being curious, and present in the moment, and allowing yourself to create without pressure. Cynthia shares her own personal experiences, how her creative practice has evolved and become a daily habit and a means of supporting her own well-being.

This episode is packed with practical tips, inspiring stories and a wealth of knowledge, and explores how art can be used as a powerful tool to find focus, manage stress, and embrace your creative side.

Diary of a ADHD Strategist | ♉ +📣 =👂🏽 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.