What's the very first step to improving life?

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When everything feels like rock bottom, and you are in a dead end living situation living at home with parents at 25 with no good job experience or education, what can I do as a first step to make things better?

Others have probably suggested this, but I'd say: Find a local volunteer position and work at it steadily. It could be at a local charity, or environmental site, or public library, or school, or anywhere. It will give you practical experience in work, and just as important, if you do a good job it will get you references you can use to get a paying job later. And it will be rewarding and will make you feel better to be doing something constructive.

What if you don't have access to reliable transportation or can't drive yet?

What helped me was heling others
If you can't volunteer because of transportation - try helping more in your home.

Movement for me also helped. I started years ago by walking past the end of the driveway to the 2nd house. .. Then expanded it to the 3rd, then 4th ......

Talking to people with a smile at stores. ... Also starting to call people from say Church (for you it might be someone else.
If you have a "dead in job" do it to the best of your ability that day.

My thought for me today
Be quick to listen
Slow to speak and anger

Gratitude list

Above things helped me
One more Say Yes BUT ....fewer times.

Start learning things so your brain gets stimulation, then see what are your options for getting an education or learning a marketable job skill, then pursue one of the options.

I was diagnosed at age 39. I always knew that I was different. At 17 I was having some severe behavioral issues and I knew that they would lead to negative consequences - like jail, feelings of failure, depression, etc. I had to make a choice. I began meditating and studying Zen Buddhism, Christianity and other world religions. I came to the conclusion that I didn't fit into any organized, institutionalized religion but that the mediation practice was extremely helpful in understanding myself and perceiving the world in a more healthy, balanced and realistic way. I was able to put myself through high school (I was homeless at 15), college (twice) and become a teacher. Now I'm a graphic artist and own my own company. I struggle with relationships but continue to meditate and learn. I'm not in jail, I'm a good father and a not so good husband. I wouldn't be able to do any of this without my regular practice of kindness, compassion and understanding. It may sound strange or too "alien" but it works. Do some research on what researchers are finding out about how mediation engages our frontal cortex and helps with neuroplasticity and you'll begin to understand how this practice can help us deal with our autism, accept ourselves and others and move forward in life. It doesn't take effort - it's the absence of effort, so there's nothing to fear or feel overwhelmed about. It's worked for millions over hundreds of years. It may work for you.
Here's a link to a teacher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ9UtuWfs3U
There are many more videos to watch and books that he's written that help people. Many people think this type of practice will/should end suffering but that is a "wrong perception". This practice helps us learn to suffer less and help others to suffer less. This practice recognizes that suffering is part of life and that we often increase our suffering unnecessarily. He has sacrificed many things only to help others suffer less. He teaches us how to suffer well, how to minimize that suffering by staying in touch with reality. That gives us a sense of strength and freedom. Good luck, be well.

I did write that it would sound "strange" or "alien" but you could also say, "sounds like new age horse jizz" and get the same message across. It all says, "I don't understand that." The great thing is that none of us HAS to understand anything. I just don't see ignorance as bliss - maybe it's my autism - but I see information as bliss. This is just information. Do with it what you will. Eat it or throw it out. We're all free to choose, no?

For those who love scientific information, here's a link to an interview with a neuroscientist from Harvard about the effects of mediation on the brain and a link to Scientific American guest blog. There's a lot more research out there if you care to look it up.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/ins ... our-brain/

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/gue ... our-brain/

New age is far from new.

Neither is meditation - yoga or
Coloring.


I find all 3 useful.

Find what works for you.

Me
I'm going cycling after watering the Rose bush.

Water is another wonderful thing
Though part of my brain doesn't like my body getting wet.