For all the challenges that my ADHD throws my way, there are some benefits that come from having this particular brain-wiring.
For example, I enjoy making good use of my contextual thinking, I like the creative sparks and ideas that fly off in all directions, I’m happy with the string of connections that bring me to unusual solutions and, best of all, I like that my loose sense of time contributes to my hearty dose of optimism.
That loose sense of time can present some difficulties – I take on too much, I can’t always tell how long things will take, and I can lose track of how long it has been since I last worked on a given project.
BUT
That same flexible sense of time often means that, for me at least, it feels like there are a lot of possibilities open. I generally feel very optimistic that things will get better and that, even if I am having trouble right now, some future me will be better able to handle things.*
Now, before you picture me decked out in red curls with a little dress just made for curtsying, I’m not Annie. I’m not over here brightsiding myself and other people and you will never catch me singing ‘The sun’ll come out tomorrow!’ at you when things are challenging. (I’m much more of a ‘Yes, that sucks. I’m sorry that’s happening to you. Do you need to vent or are you in solutions-mode?’ kind of person)
And when I say ‘I live in hope’, I never mean that I sit around *waiting* for things to improve, my optimism isn’t empty. But my default setting is to assume that things will get better so I keep working in that direction.
So when I say I’m all in for Optimistic October with Action for Happiness, I mean it.
Optimism – believing in a positive future and taking steps to make that future happen- is a good strategy for feeling happier overall and I like how Action for Happiness makes it a bit easier to shift yourself towards optimistic thinking and a little extra happiness.
I especially like how this month’s calendar starts out with the suggestion that you identify three things to look forward to. What a great way to practice optimism and to savour something fun in advance.
Even though my base level of optimism is quite high, I will be trying the tips for Optimistic October.
And I hope you’ll join me for whichever ones feel doable for you. I think your brain might like it!
*Yes, this sometimes backfires on me when it turns out that future me is the same as past me but I’m learning to figure out when it’s a good idea to assign something to future me and when it is better for current me to do it.
