Do We Really Need More Controversy About ADD ADHD Benefits and Gifts? — ADD ADHD Tip O the Day 580

Aaron Smith said it very well:

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  Aaron Smith

  ADHD Achievement Strategist & Motivational Coach

  “Like everything else in life, it’s easy to paint ADHD with a broad brush. Saying it’s “all bad” or “all good,” if only life were that simple. ADHD can be your greatest asset and your Achilles heal. It’s not an “either or” question, it’s an “and both” way of being and relating to your various contextual environments. It’s what you do with your unique mind that makes all the difference, and how you perceive yourself. If we become overly negative, we lose sight of opportunities for growth. There are always ways to harness your ADHD and cultivate greater depths of insight into your mind. Let’s support each other and offer constructive narratives, uplifting strategies, helpful tips, etc. There’s already so much negative stuff out there in society, why not instead offer solutions. For every failure or scenario where someone has given up, there’s someone who has found improbable success through dedication, perseverance, and establishing a growth mindset. We need to learn from these individuals, and understand that their successes could be your own success with the right strategies, tools, systems of support, the right outlook, self-confidence, and persistence.”

  Right on, Aaron!

  May I proffer my opinions (Again)?
  

  1. Maybe there isn’t really a need for controversy. Clearly, ADD ADHD provides both benefits and detriments.

  2. What is the benefit in standing around shouting about the benefits? Maybe it helps sustain morale and encourages us to make the most of our strengths?

  3.What is the benefit of sitting around moaning about our deficiencies?   None.         And beating up on ourselves is destructive.

  4. But there is also no benefit in denying them. If we acknowledge our problems, then we can address them and come up with ways to cope with them, strategies that will make our lives better.

  5. Unfortunately, for me, the benefits, such as creativity, a wide range of interests, and the ability to hyperfocus (not under my control, sadly), are often overwhelmed by the detriments, such as distractibility, difficulty setting priorities, and procrastination.

  Conclusion: How to Live Well With ADD ADHD

  So, let’s be kind to ourselves, capitalize on our abilities, acknowledge our problems, and come up with strategies for them.

  doug

   

  Pete Quily’s wonderful list of 151 benefits of ADHD

  link for Aaron Smith

  Previous Posts on the Controversy:

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  Enjoying one of my ADD ADHD gifts!

  two

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