Staying on the Right Path
When I received my undergrad degree, I had no idea what I wanted to do with it. I spent that first summer after graduation doing basically nothing, waiting for inspiration to strike. A few writing gigs popped up, and I decided to try my hand at being a freelance writer. It was not a lucrative decision. However, I enjoyed writing and made some interesting connections. To make a long story short, I ended up becoming an ADHD coach. Shortly after I started coaching, I was approached by at least one person to apply for an executive editor job. It was quite tempting. In the end, I chose to stay an ADHD coach and not apply for the job. Why did I choose the uncertainty of entrepreneurship over a steady job? I did so because, when I became an ADHD coach, I finally had a plan for my life. I knew I needed to stick to the plan. Looking back, I have no regrets. I know I stayed on the right path.
As I said, though, the executive editor job was tempting. I easily could have veered off the path and chased that. Those of us with ADHD can be easily distracted, not only in our daily lives but also in the grand scheme of things. The shiny opportunity of the executive editor job was a distraction from the path. How did I fend off the distraction and stay on the path? I have a system in place for determining what is right for me and what is not, and I stuck to it.
Passion
I spent a lot of time wondering what I was meant to do in life when I was younger. I had ideas, but nothing ever excited me. However, when I started exploring helping others with ADHD, I found something I was truly passionate about. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had a mission, and it was exciting.
That is what is key in my humble opinion. You need to find what excites you and motivates you. Those of us with ADHD can be interested in a lot of things. However, few things truly make us passionate. So, pay attention to how your various ideas about what you want to do make you feel. What lines up with your passion?
Peace
Determining what makes you passionate can be challenging. You may think a lot of things make you passionate. That is why I recommend a second measuring stick in addition to passion. That second criterion is peace. What gives you peace? I believe, if you follow what brings you peace, you will end up where you need to be.
Sticking with It
“The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.”
Once you have found what you are passionate about and what gives you peace, cling to it. This is the right path for you. Do not allow yourself to be distracted by new, shiny things. Be stubborn, and stick to the path. Yes, we need to be open to whatever comes our way, but we must not allow the whims of society to redirect us. When we have a path, we must stay on it.
Constant Evaluation
Is it ever okay to deviate from the path? Potentially. We need to be constantly paying attention to how the path is making us feel. Are you still passionate? Are you still at peace? These are key indicators that you are on the right path.
Sometimes, the path takes us to places we never expected. If you come to a fork in the path, pay attention to how each possibility makes you feel. Does it inspire passion and peace, or does it bring restlessness? Follow the passionate, peaceful path.
Moreover, sometimes, the path you are on comes to a natural conclusion. Staying on the path then will take you nowhere. It is time to find a new path.
Finding the Path in the Forest
Before I found ADHD coaching, I had traveled down the paths of several different careers. It is okay to not know what the right path is. We all find the right path in our own time. There is no magic age where you must know where your path is. Sometimes, you have to trudge through the forest before you find the path. That is okay. You can learn a lot from this wandering. It helps you learn about yourself, and self-knowledge is important.
If you are in the forest and need to find your path, coaching can help. I am willing to explore your forest and help you find your path, but there are also ADHD coaches who specialize in helping people find the right career. The bottom line is this: You are not alone.