The Secret to Thriving with ADHD
Having spent two decades working in the ADHD community, (and my lifetime living with it), I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to thrive with focusing issues. I’ve learned that discovering what drives you is key to adapting and growing alongside your ADHD. This self-awareness becomes your blueprint to thrive.
By learning the way your brain works, you can design a life that plays to your strengths and desires. This is how to access your expansive potential. Think of all the remarkable innovators, leaders, and celebrities with ADHD who have thrived by thinking outside the box and making an impact.
It’s not easy–it’s hard work. But, if you are willing to do the work, open to help, curious about what inspires you, and committed to accepting yourself, ADHD will not hold you back. Quite the opposite, it becomes a strength.
If you are asking the question, “How do I live fully with ADHD?” here are four key elements to help guide you:
1. Get to know your unique version of ADHD.
Managing ADHD starts with understanding the details of how it affects you personally. Each person with ADHD faces a unique set of challenges, and finding solutions involves experimenting to create the right mindset and environment that works for you. Figuring this out can feel tedious, sometimes hopeless and no matter what you try, you cannot translate your intentions into action. Remember, being aware is the first step towards designing your life around your needs, priorities and passions. It takes time, but trust that you will get there. The answer forward is within you.
2. You don’t have to do it alone.
Finding support that works means both being vulnerable and advocating for yourself. This can be especially challenging when you’re not sure what you want or need. Letting others support you can make all the difference. Figure out who you can lean on–whether it’s a friend, a family member, a coach, or your community– and commit to sharing your process with them. This softens the days that feel like too much and allows you the space of safety you need to stay cognitively flexible. You don’t have to carry it all on your own.
3. Find and nurture what lights you up from the inside.
With every person I have ever met with ADHD, there is a small flame inside. Something that you care about differently, or see abundantly, or are enraged about. Take a moment to reflect on what excites or motivates you. Whether it’s a hobby, a cause, a personal project, or the people you surround yourself with, honouring what lights you up can help you stay connected to your purpose. It can be wildly difficult to trust yourself in this, but that light, even if only an ember right now, will be the key to your journey. And it is through a gentle process of hope that we can help light or re-ignite this spark in you.
4. Acceptance is journey, not a destination.
Living with ADHD is exhausting. It is often messy, confounding, and hard to make sense of. There are highs and lows, moments of clarity and times of frustration. But remember, acceptance takes time. Take note of how far you’ve come in understanding yourself. When you gain self-awareness of your strengths and challenges, and create a space to fully accept yourself, you will see your path forward. In that moment of acceptance, you’ll feel grounded and confident.
I have witnessed so many individuals with ADHD get to a place of contentment and connection, working with the right mindset, a team that believes in them, and a vision defined by personal values. You can get there too – you are capable, resilient and worthy of all the success and peace you seek.
If this journey resonates with you but you’re unsure where to start, our team is here to support you. Whether it’s through 1:1 coaching, our online course, or a simple call, we’re here to help you take the next step.
About Laura MacNiven
Laura MacNiven, MEd, is an ADHD Coach with over 15 years’ experience providing support to neurodiverse children, teens and adults. She is a Co-Founder of Springboard Clinic, an Ontario-based ADHD clinic providing assessment, treatment and coaching/therapy services in person and virtually. She has also co-authored Springboard’s Workbook for Adults with ADHD “May We Have Your Attention Please?” and facilitates online group courses for adults and parents in the fall.
