Anyone who has been diagnosed with ADHD can make a long list of the problems that make life so challenging.  What we don’t spend enough time talking about are the advantages to having a brain that works differently.  The point is not to pretend that having ADHD is easy, but merely to take a few minutes to see the up side.  If you have been reading my Tips for awhile, you have probably noticed that I often talk about turning tasks into games or fun.  One reason I do that is because I have found that many of my clients have a playful side that sometimes needs a little encouragement to show itself. 

In addition to playfulness, what are other positives that I often see in my clients?  They see connections that others miss.  While their minds may be buzzing non-stop, that buzzing is often because they are following connections that lead them to creative ideas and solutions. 

It is probably the ability to see connections others miss that makes many with ADD very creative.  That creativity can manifest in the arts, or it may be more apparent in problem-solving or generating new ideas.  Have you found the areas in which your creativity can shine?

While it is true that ADDers can lose track of time and wander off task, they can nevertheless be highly productive in short bursts.  This is why I often encourage clients to plan two to three short work sessions per day rather than expecting themselves to sustain productivity across an eight-hour day. 

What are your gifts or strengths?  How might your ADD brain be a positive for you and your family?  Your assignment:  Make a list of at least five positive aspects of your ADD.  If you can’t think of any, ask others who know you well to give you feedback.  And be sure to ask positive, encouraging people!  Then put that list in your wallet.  You may need to pull it out now and again when you or others are focusing on the negatives.