The Optimism List
It can be hard to feel optimistic when it seems like you are
constantly struggling.
If you find yourself feeling held back by your ADHD symptoms, it may not feel like there is a 'bright side' at all.
We all go through different seasons—those ups and downs that can leave us feeling a little queasy, like being on a rollercoaster. Afterward, you just want to stop, sit down, and hope the feeling passes soon.
But, it doesn't mean you should give up entirely. There are still good things—you may just have to look a little harder during those down times.
Make a list and check it a lot more than twice!
When you are experiencing "the emotional storms of ADHD" as our dear friend, James Ochoa, would say, you tend to be more focused on the storm and less focused on the calm that always follows the storm. That means we need to find ways to remind ourselves of what we have outside of those times where it can feel like nothing is going right.
I am a big fan of making a list. Write down those feel-good, after-the-storm, sunshine-y thoughts that seem to get lost when things aren't going right. Then, when you find yourself battling those tough days, you can refer back to that list and remind yourself what is going right around you—even if you can't see it right now.
What goes on the list?
Anything! You can put absolutely anything on your optimism list. If it is something that brings you comfort or makes you feel good about yourself or the world around you, it is worth putting on the list.
I understand it can sometimes be hard to come up with ideas on the spot, so I am going to share some items I have on my own optimism list:
I am the mom of two healthy, adult children whom I love and love me back.
I have a loving husband and partner who always stands with me through thick and thin.
I am thankful to have a roof over my head, food to eat, and clean water to drink every day.
I enjoy listening to true crime podcasts; I like to solve mysteries.
I am extremely thankful to live in a world that has Jason Mraz living in it. (He’s my favorite singer)
See? You can go big or small, serious or silly, whatever you want can go on the list as long as it is something that can bring out your optimism about yourself, your circumstances, and the world around you.
Take The 7-day ADHD Strength Finder Journey with me!
A lot of emotional storms faced by ADHDers can start or begin to turn inward. ADHDers tend to be overly critical of their actions and behaviors and they are their harshest critics.
This means ADHDers sometimes need to put in the extra work to find and know their own personal strengths. Knowing and constantly being aware of your own personal strengths can give you a better lens to look through when you are evaluating yourself.
If you have never thought about what your strengths are, and you are someone who spends more time criticizing yourself for the negative things you see—you are not alone! This is quite common among ADHDers.
That is why I created a free resource on the TCA website called The ADHD Strength Finder. When you sign up for this 7-day challenge, I will send you one email every day for a week. Each one contains with something new to consider about yourself and your own strengths.
On the first day, you receive a free workbook that you can download and use to journal, make notes, and complete the daily exercises. By the end of seven days, you will have compiled a good-sized list of your strengths; all the things you're good at and even like about yourself.
These personal strengths are a fantastic thing to add to your optimism list.
It's time to get optimistic!
I would like to challenge you to create your own optimism list. Start adding your own thoughts and feelings into a list that you can call on when you are feeling down or you are experiencing an emotional storm.
Don't feel like you need to finish the list or get every single thing on the list. I believe it is always a work in progress. There are always new things to find optimism in.
Be sure to take your time. There is no rush. Think about the things that make you feel good and can help you find optimism; those things you will find in the calm after the storm.
Start your 7-day journey with The ADHD Strength Finder!
Thank you for your time and attention,
Nikki
