Your Life Practice

ADHD can make it hard to connect our small actions to important outcomes. We might say, “Why should I do that (whatever it is)?” “What’s the point?” Or, “I’ll do it when I’m ready.”

The problem with that is, that when you’re ready - when you have your “why” - you may feel behind. There’s not enough time. You might even feel like a failure, although you’ve never worked at it.

I’m very aware that people with ADHD have an aversion to the whole idea of a “goal.” So I want to subvert that whole paradigm by suggesting viewing your daily life as a practice. It can change how you think about what you do, and why.

If what you do is a practice, then uncertainty becomes a feature, not a bug! Curiosity - that chance of finding out what will happen - is nurtured.

I think of a practice as an activity that is done regularly, intentionally, and is meaningful in itself. A practice can be flexible; it can wax and wane.

When an athlete or a musician practice, they don’t know if it will “pay off,” do they? They practice because they are an athlete or musician. Because of how they spend their time, they are who they are. And so are we all.

You may not know what you are getting ready for, and that’s another reason to practice. You don’t NEED goals! Because practicing your life puts you into the mindset that makes up your identity.

Practicing can be extended to any activity to add meaning and importance. What you do each day IS practicing who you are, and recognizing and respecting that can add peace and clarity to your daily life.

What are you practicing?