Dyslexia and Nutrition with Sarah Ann Macklin

An Unconventional Pathway to Success

On today's post, we delve into the life of our remarkable guest, Sarah Ann Macklin. An illustrious model, registered nutritionist, podcast host, founder of a mental health organization, writer, and public speaker, Sarah's repertoire of roles echoes the idea that living with dyslexia doesn't confine you to a single path.

Sarah generously uncovers her journey with dyslexia, diagnosed at age 23 during her university studies. Sarah's school days paint a picture of a diligent student, unobserved and under-supported due to her undiagnosed dyslexia.

The catalyst in her journey was when a teacher offensively predicted her future. This interaction ignited a determination within her to prove the teacher wrong, leading to her discovery of mind mapping as a learning technique. Sarah's story is a powerful reminder that understanding our unique learning styles can unlock immense potential. This post is a summary of a "Dyslexia Explored" podcast episode. To listen to the full episode, scroll down and click play.

Sarah's Epiphany: Understanding and Overcoming Dyslexia

Despite thriving in the modeling industry, Sarah felt compelled to reevaluate her life after experiencing health issues. Consequently, she decided to pursue a course in human nutrition. This decision led to a profound period of self-discovery and self-care, though not without hurdles and doubt from those around her.

However, Sarah persevered. During her university days, she confronted unfamiliar feelings of disorientation and apprehension, particularly when assigned complex presentations. Upon the suggestion of a lecturer, Sarah decided to take a dyslexia test, leading to a monumental revelation about her unique brain functioning.

The Power of Mind Mapping: Tools for Success

Sarah's academic journey was marked by significant struggle, especially during her law studies at the University of Edinburgh. It was here that she discovered the potent tool of mind mapping, a visual organization technique particularly beneficial for individuals with dyslexia.

Sarah began using mind mapping in her third year of law school, discovering an enhanced ability to process and retain information. She underlines the importance of finding strategies that work personally, even if they deviate from traditional or common methods.

Sarah also emphasizes the importance of routine in managing dyslexia. Despite not inherently enjoying structure, she found that it helps her feel more in control and less overwhelmed.

The Unique Landscape of the Dyslexic Mind

Sarah paints an eloquent picture of the dyslexic mind, highlighting its distinct thought processes. She emphasizes that those with dyslexia engage in intentional thinking, often leading to innovative developments. While this divergence can be challenging in a systematic environment, it thrives in creative, dynamic settings, resulting in a higher percentage of entrepreneurs with dyslexia.

Sarah asserts that success isn't bound by traditional structures or plans for individuals with dyslexia; instead, it thrives on their unique, organic, and often 'outside the box' approach.

Embracing Out-of-the-the-Box Thinking in Entrepreneurship

 Sarah ventures into discussing the entrepreneurial journey for individuals with dyslexia. She emphasizes the need to make this process more dyslexia-friendly, essentially redesigning the business entrepreneurial journey to better align with the dyslexic way of thinking.

The discussion of the business model canvas provides an insight into a visual planning method that could be extremely beneficial for individuals with dyslexia. This reinforces the understanding that diverse thinking styles can benefit from different methods of planning and execution.

The bottom line is, embracing out-of-the-box thinking is about understanding and celebrating these unique approaches to problem-solving, creativity, and life.

The Connection Between Dyslexia and Emotional Resilience

Sarah, through her own experiences, highlights that the journey with dyslexia often strengthens emotional resilience. Facing challenges and overcoming them leads to an innate ability to adapt, a trait that has undoubtedly played a significant role in her successful, multifaceted career.

Sarah's journey, from an undiagnosed student to a successful entrepreneur, underscores the potential within each person living with dyslexia. Her story serves as an inspiration for us all, a testament to the power of understanding our unique ways of learning and processing information.

The exploration of out-of-the-box thinking should be a continuous journey, one that celebrates our differences and supports diverse learning styles. By doing so, we can unlock the true potential within us all.

For the full conversation with Sarah Ann Macklin and more empowering stories of those embracing their unique ways of thinking, listen to the full episode of the "Dyslexia Explored" podcast below 

This podcast is sponsored by: http://dyslexiaproductivitycoaching.com/ 

Links you might want to check: 

Live Well Be Well podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/waA-L3xV?at=1000l3apm

Sarah Ann’s website: https://sarahannmacklin.com/

Sarah Ann’s Newsletter sign up: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63da7b62ecc678190062732d

Be Well collective: www.bewellcollective.co.uk

Instagram @be_well_collective

Dyslexia Quiz: https://bulletmapacademy.com/dyslexia-quiz/

Dyslexia at Work: www.dyslexiawork.com

Bulletmap Academy Page: https://bulletmapacademy.com