Powered by Passion, Motivated by FUN & Gifted with ADHD/ADD!
Posted on November 22, 2016 by Derek Sleater Cook, One of Thousands of ADD ADHD Coaches on Noomii.
Yes, I am declaring that ADHD/ADD is a gift! It is not a curse, as some may argue. The key is discovering, embracing & utilizing the strengths!
I like to have fun! Simply said, if it is fun, I’m likely to do it. I heard about a book nearly 20 years ago called, “The Color Code,” by Taylor Hartman, Jr., Ph.D. I took the assessment and discovered more of what I already knew: My core motivation is “fun.” Dr. Hartman states that some people may not have [be gifted] with ADHD/ADD, they may just be motivated by FUN as he and I are. For me, what matters is that if you are not satisfied with your results, implement something different (coaching, official diagnosis, counseling, exercise, diet, medication, structure, etc.) Consider all your options, get multiple opinions, professional and otherwise, and include others’ experiences with similar challenges, personality types, diagnosis and solutions that have worked for them.
I have found benefits in therapy, exercise, routines, developing more personal accountability, medication, and find my greatest satisfaction in my coaching through helping others re-frame their challenges/limitations and “curse” to a mindset of acceptance, gratitude and utilizing the unlimited potential and gifts. With over 25 years of personal experience with all of the above solutions and nearly eight years coaching professionally, I can help you empower yourself to create the results you desire!
Each core motivation has strengths and limitations that make each one awesome and awful. It all depends on how one chooses to express themselves and perceive others. That journey has been and continues to be, an amazing self-exploration and development of EQ or emotional intelligence.
It has been said oft that I’m a bit crazy. Well, it’s more than just a bit crazy and I love it and I own it! I have never been embarrassed about my ADHD/ADD, even though there have been complaints and problems. I have been blessed with an amazing mother and father and my entire family that have been sufficiently supportive and most loving! My ADHD diagnosis gave me understanding, explanation, and options to cope, improve and maximize the fantastic components that are often envied by others.
Sometimes it may be easy for me to become distracted. Then, at other times, my focus is keen, consistent and endures. I do not usually just like something, I LOVE it or I don’t. Yes, that’s a bit “Black or White,” without many options for shades of gray. If we’re speaking “colors”/core motivations/personality types, I’m YELLOW: Motivated by “FUN!” Knowing that I have a choice to partner with who I am and how my personality operates, rather than fight against the parts of that may present challenges. I also possess the gift of ADHD/ADD.- IMPORTANT NOTE * I acknowledge that using the word, “gift” is controversial AND I make the declaration, here and now, that I OWN all rights and privileges to my self-perception of my gifts and limitations and so do YOU, my friends and colleagues, who possess this fantastic gift. I value the observations of well-meaning observers, be they loved ones, friends, co-workers and dedicated professionals in academia. I thank you for your observations, patience, assistance, flexibility, support, and love!
I have failed more times than I care to admit. I have caused pain for myself and my family. Much can be attributed to ADHD AND I am still accountable for my actions. My choices and not making a choice at all, have connected me with suffering in health, relationships, career and more. I now own those choices and results. I have now created another choice that is always present. That choice is to own my results, good or bad, learn from any so-called “mistakes,” and choose to do something different next time and avoid “insanity,” (doing the same thing, over and over again, and expecting different/better results).
My passion for life, love and connecting with others now presents as a fuel source greater than all the oil reserves on the planet. My fun and crazy often collaborate with music, exploring the world, the Olympics, dance, creating good food, orchestrating simple or outrageous surprises to produce what I call “Powered by Passion!”
If you have ever felt like quitting a project, a relationship, a dream or quitting life itself, you are not alone! If you have ever felt like there was no help, no solution, no explanations, no understanding, no possibility to finish the task, achieve the goal and live your dream, you are not alone! If you are tired of being told you’re a failure, that you will always be a failure, and feeling like those accusations are true, you are not alone!
- NEWSFLASH ** They are NOT TRUE! You can learn to FINISH! You can learn to ACHIEVE! You can learn to LEARN from so-called failures and mistakes as they are life’s best teachers! In fact, our child-like willingness to never stop trying to “learn to walk” is exactly why we continue to take risks, continue to fail and have more opportunities than mainstream individuals to learn the lessons, more flexibility to do something different and therefore, achieve greater results, live bigger dreams and LOVE LIFE like no other!
How would learning more about what motivates you, how to better embrace your gifts and minimize the limitations, help you refine your trajectory to living your life’s purpose?
