Self-belief is like a trampoline. It powers us on to create achievable goals, improves our focus, firms up our personal and professional boundaries, strengthens our relationships, increases our resilience, reduces stress and improves our mental health. What a list of wins!
As a Life Coach, I am privileged to meet many wonderful adults with ADHD at an intimate, open level of trust. Yet I am so often saddened by their lack of belief in themselves.
Of course, this is partly understandable. So many of us have a background of perceived ‘failure’ as we were comparing our life with what we felt, deep down, to be our true potential.
However, now we are building the awareness which comes with diagnosis and effective treatments for ADHD this view becomes increasingly less valid and a new, updated and more realistic personal narrative is called for.
To re-align a genuine self-belief in the light of our new awareness, we need to take crucial steps.
That old, ineffective trampoline needs careful restoration!
Restore your bounce and repair the fabric of self-belief in 5 steps:
1. Embrace who you are.
Be kind to yourself. Understand that ADHD is a part of who you are, and living with it demonstrates how resilient and capable you are. Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you'd offer to a friend facing similar life changes.
2. Set realistic goals.
Break tasks into manageable (i.e., tiny!) steps and set achievable goals. This way, you will experience success more often and gradually build your confidence.
3. Celebrate small wins.
Acknowledge and celebrate all your achievements, no matter how small they may seem. This helps rewire your brain to focus on your strengths rather than perceived shortcoming
4. Reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Ask friends for their thoughts. They can help you build self-belief through their words, actions, and empathy. Ask them whether they agree with the way you see yourself. Take their comments to heart and surround yourself with a supportive social network.
Join ADHD support groups to connect with others who ‘get’ you. Sharing and comparing experiences and coping strategies will boost your self-esteem as you discover how resilient and valuable you are to other people.
5. Practice mindfulness
Incorporate mindfulness techniques into your daily routine. This can help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings, allowing you to respond to challenges with greater self-compassion and less impulsivity.
Remember, with solid and up-dated self-belief, the sky’s the limit!!
Book a free discovery meeting now and find out how life coaching can help you update and re-align a genuine, powerful sense of self.