Welcome to the thirty-fifth episode of Harness Your ADHD Power. I’m so glad you could join me today. Throughout my 30+ years of working with adults with ADHD, Executive Function deficits, depression, anxiety, addictions, and many other co-occurring challenges, I’ve noticed a theme that bears talking about today. And that is the abundance of “symptoms” that often present themselves to us, and are basically saying, “Hey you! There are things you need to pay attention to and take care of here.” And, if we are fortunate enough to both hear and understand the messages of those “symptoms,” and actually take action to search out what the underlying issues are, and follow through on resolving them, we can put an end to a lot of the suffering that we live with. Difficulties and challenges are part of life; ongoing suffering involves your mind and is optional. So you might be wondering what all of that has to do with the topics abundant criticism and scarcity of kind words. I’ll be getting there, so stay with me on this. I see this episode inter-connected with four others I’ve produced: “027-Figuring out where to start when so much needs your attention now, 001-It’s not your fault & you’re not off the hook either, 030-Ask Dr B – about Stories we tell ourselves, low self-esteem & self-sabotaging behaviors, and 004-What is your procrastination a symptom of?” If you’re like so many of the adults I work with, you have a ton of issues that all need your attention now and you don’t even know where to start, let alone know how you are going to get them all done. And it hasn’t you're your fault up to this point, because you most likely haven’t been given the information you needed and the path to the learning and mastery of the missing skills, so you could take responsibility and make the necessary changes. And with so many years of failed attempts or failed outcomes, your self-esteem may be quite low, the stories you tell yourself are self-defeating and not empowering you at all and you fell into the trap years ago of short-term solutions or Band-Aids that have now become self-sabotaging behaviors because they were only intended as short-term solutions. And your procrastination “symptoms” are “messengers” telling you where to look for what the underlying issues are but if you don’t know that and have been working on trying to “fix” your procrastination around getting started, keeping going and actually finishing up, then you’ve been chasing after the wrong issues because those are just “symptoms.” In this episode, I’m going to explore the many ways that criticism is abundant and kind words are scarce in the lives of adults with ADHD and other co-existing conditions. And a little hint: it has to do with your relationship with yourself. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes. Share on social media, and with your family and friends. Thanks for listening! Until the next time! Download the Transcript and read through the whole episode, from start to finish. Download the MP3 Audio File and listen to the episode however you like with the audio file. You'll learn: The importance of really looking for, acknowledging and celebrating your WINS! The stories you tell yourself, how it fuels your self-criticism and what it takes to change your stories Reasons why kind words might be scarce in your life, the beliefs and values that drive that and steps you can take Embracing and integrating all those things that need your attention now and moving forward into the life worth living that you deserve I've created many different resources for you. Here's what's available currently: This podcast, with Show Notes for each episode The Harness Your ADHD Power Community on Facebook where I'm actively involved with the community members Live videos on my Facebook page, ADDventures in Achievement Ask Dr B your questions for an episode Reach out to me with your thoughts or feedback or needs 6-question survey to tell me what you’re struggling with A free video and e-book about getting your ADHD needs met A free tips e-book on decision-making My innovative online coaching and educational program, ADDventures in Achievement, now open for limited enrollment. If you're not certain if this might be right for you, please set up a complimentary consultation with me right away to find out. A Favorite Quote: Sharon Salzberg said, “Loving-kindness and compassion are the basis for wise, powerful, sometimes gentle, and sometimes fierce actions that can really make a difference – in our own lives and those of others.’” The question I have for you at this point of our journey together is, “Are you willing to cultivate loving-kindness and compassion for yourself and give it with grace, if you don’t already do so?” I hope so because it will change your life.
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