Trusting Yourself
It can be hard to trust oneself when one has ADHD. There are many mistakes that get made made when living with ADHD. Most are not a big deal, but the frequency of mistakes can erode one’s self-confidence. Building up trust in one’s abilities and self-efficacy can be challenging. So, what can be done? Here are a few tips.
Watch Your Self-Talk
It can be easy to berate oneself when things do not go as planned. However, this is not helpful. Negative self-talk destroys confidence. Find ways of building yourself up while engaging in self-talk. Be kind to yourself, and the rewards will start flowing.
Get Some Wins Under Your Belt
Start doing something – anything – that is an easy win. Do not let yourself think that a win is too small to count. It counts if it was something challenging for you. What is challenging for your might not be challenging for someone else, but that is okay. We are all different and require different criteria for a win.
Remember Past Wins
It can be easy to discount past wins, but that is also not helpful. We need to remember that we have had past successes. Dig deep in your memory to find those buried treasures. They are down there, and you may have to dig through piles of muck and filth to find them. However, those wins are there. Find those wins, and celebrate them.
Remember That Success Is Unique to Each Person
What does success mean to you? It is unique to each person. I am not some relativistic philosopher. On the contrary, I believe that truth is not dependent on a person’s opinion. However, it is a fact that success looks different for each person given their circumstances. There may be similarities, but everyone finds their success in different ways. For example, having a successful career means something different to me than it does to a professional athlete. I am looking to grow my business and help those with ADHD (or ADHD-like symptoms). Whereas, a professional athlete wants to make money and win championships. I am not in this business to win accolades. If I were named an MVP of a sports league, I would be flattered and excited, but that is not my purpose in life. I have other things I want to accomplish.
In Conclusion…
By building up a knowledge of how you win, you will be better able to know that you can do the thing. You are capable of doing hard things. If you don’t believe that, check your history. You have had wins, and you are winning. Moreover, you may be defining success by something that does not apply to you. With proper perspective you will be able to access your strengths and believe in yourself. When you believe yourself, you will trust yourself.