Principles for Thriving with ADHD
The High Holidays are upon us, and for a lot of us, that means cooking up a storm, or ten. You don’t have to “make” this recipe right now, but do save it. You’ll find below my top 5 principles for thriving with ADHD - the step by step guidance for living an easier, happier life with ADHD.
1. No, You are Not Lazy, Crazy or Stupid!
Yes, this is actually the title of a book about thriving with ADHD! ADHD is a chemical imbalance in your brain, not a character flaw. You wouldn’t call a diabetic lazy for not controlling their insulin. While ADHD is not an excuse, it is an explanation. Dropping the shame allows you to focus on taking the actions you need to take, to support your brain.
2. You Do Not Need Fixing!
Overcoming the challenges that come with your brain makeup is only part of it, and thriving with ADHD is not about "fixing" you. You are not broken, and your life is so much more than just problems to solve! So what else is there? Keep reading…
3. Focus on your Strengths & Values!
The secret sauce for thriving with ADHD is not to work harder at what’s difficult for you. It is to design a life where you:
a) spend most of your time using your strengths,
b) honoring your values and
c) outsourcing or supporting your challenges.
4. Your Habits Determine your Future!
Lasting change is incremental, not drastic. Little habits, when consistently done, turn into significant strides. Motivation is what gets you started, but habit is what keeps you going. Start with introducing one habit at a time. And think progress over perfection. Forgetting is part of the process, so jump back on the horse and keep riding along.
5. Celebrate Failure!
Actually, there's no such thing as failure, it's all just feedback. We try, we fail, we learn something and then we try something else. Life is trial and insight, adapt, rinse, wash, repeat.
May this year be full of happiness, health, a little bit organization and a whole lot of calm!
