The Truth About ADD and Follow Through

"I know I'm capable of so much more. I'm just not living up to my potential."

If you're an adult with ADD, then you're probably all too familiar with this sentiment.

It's a judgment that often manifests itself when you take stock of all the great ideas you've had that never got off the ground, and all the unfinished projects that you started but never completed. 

The overwhelming number of things in your life that you haven't "followed through" on can lead you to believe that you are not living up to your potential. But this simply isn't true.                      

By nature, ADDers are visionaries and idea generators. If only someone would pay us to think up great ideas all day long - we'd all be rich!

We think of so many  "wouldn't it be nice to...",  "I'd really like to...", and "someone should find a way to..." ideas that it would be absolutely  impossible to follow through on every great idea we have.     

Think about it. If you tried to implement every good idea you ever had, would you have time to eat, sleep, or even breathe right now? Probably not. But this is not an indication that you're lazy, unable to follow  through, or not living up to your potential.

Successful  ADDers know that they are always going to have great ideas that never come to  fruition. It's just our nature to be constantly thinking, creating and innovating. We can't shut off this part of ourselves even when we try! But we simply don't have the physical or  mental capability to follow through on every great idea that comes to us.

Rather than beating yourself up about all those great ideas that don't go anywhere, embrace your idea-generating ability as a part of who you are.

Realize that some  ideas are worth following through on, and some are not.  Let go of the guilt. Refuse to listen to the internal dialog that tells you you're lazy and not living up to your potential, simply because you have too many good ideas to keep up with! 

Instead, ask yourself what's practical to follow through on in the present, instead of putting pressure on yourself to do it all.  Keep a notebook in which you write down your great ideas so that you can  come back to them if you want to.

Focus  on one or two  great ideas that you want to make happen, and use past ideas that you actually did follow through on to motivate you as you move forward.   

And don't  forget to acknowledge this special talent that you have. The ability to generate tons of great ideas  makes you a visionary!

Have thoughts on this topic? Please share them in the comments!

Comments

[maura lynch]

This concept has plagued me all my life. I cringe when my family laughs, and says, you only talk about stuff, never do it. But last week, i managed to implement a soccer tournament with underprivileged kids from all over our county. I worked with numerous county agencies, non-profits, and volunteers. I then followed through, sent out all thank you letters and set up web site. I realized, the tournament was as much for me to execute one of my ideas, as for the soccer players to play.
Politically, t was important to execute this idea now. So i prioritized, focused, and was successful.

[Kerry]

Hi Jen,

This is so weird that I just received this email. A colleague and friend of mine were just discussing the fact that I'm thinking of going back to school to pursue a PhD in Marital and Family Counseling focusing on ADHD and its co-morbid disorders. He asked me, "Are you sure that you will keep interest in this venture long enough to get through it and make it worthwhile?" He asked b/c he knows my ADD ways - that is, that I tend to come up with other great ideas and then end up leaving the one I was just so passionate about the day before in the dust to start thinking of my new interest. But I told him as I am you all, is that yes, it will keep my interest and I know this b/c I have been stewing about it for a while, and even if I go off in a different direction intermittently, I seem to keep returning to this topic again and again.

And so just in speaking to him about it I learned something new about ADD ways of trying to follow through with an idea or plan - that is, that I may not be able to walk a straight line in pursuing this career but I will pave the road that allows me to jump off when I need to go in a different direction and explore new ideas and then return knowing that the way I approach my education and career will be on my own terms, as I am the only one I have to report my progress to outside of my advisor and such. So, in that regard, I'm not feeling guilty about how I will approach my path to a doctorate. Maybe I will pursue it slower than those without ADD and find interests and develop ideas along the way that will enhance my perspective and contribution to what I can offer to my research and application of my expertise once I've matriculated.

You know, one time I was consulting with my priest (I'm Catholic as if I need more guilt in my life!) and he noticed that I was trying to accomplish life's work all at one time. He said to me, my dear, you have your whole life to accomplish such work. Don't rush. So, I'm trying really hard to remind myself and follow that advice daily. It is definitely difficult when I'm overcome with new and interesting ideas but has kept me sane.

Kerry:)

[Lori]

As a 51 year old ADDer, I have finally found a way to keep all of ideas from flooding/aka drowning me while communting the 30min. back and forth to work. As I have aged the ideas haven't lessened but the energy to deal with them has.
I purchase or borrow educational or inspirational audio CD's that are good for me and possibly my job. I still get ideas but more focused.

[Linda]

It's ALWAYS good for one's self-esteem to keep the positive "view" (being a visionary, rather than "never getting dreams accomplished", as you said.) - Thanks. - AND
a) what about methods to recruit and work with others, towards what starts out as one's own "vision" and become a (changed) shared vision?
b) setting a time frame within which to "clear the decks" of "other things" so that ONE vision can be pursued?
c) hiring secretary? -- It's always seemed to me that for me (and other ADDers), the switch to computers from secretarial assistance, -- sorry for the concept -- has been disastrous. I was glad to give up a part of my salary, to keep a secretary at one time in my career - now, working from home, I REALLY need one!

Just sending off ideas in hopes they can be useful.
L

[Jen Koretsky]

That's great news, Maura! Thanks for this example that illustrates my point beautifully!

[Jen Koretsky]

Great point, Kerry! The end point is the same no matter how you get there! :)

[Jen Koretsky]

Lori - it's great that you found a way to channel all those great ideas! :)

[Jen Koretsky]

Linda - thanks for taking the discussion one step further. Your questions are helpful and thought-provoking! :)

[Crystal KIng]

Thank you for this reminder! I've printed it out to stick on the wall beside my bed as a positive note to myself each morning.

For me, and I suspect other wonderfull ADDers out there, is to move past the idea generation into the action and completion mode. I have created a list in my head of things I know I can do, and complete. The other things, I try to find someone else to do for me. I spend as much of my time and life doing the things that come naturally to me. Sometimes I do not have a choice, but I'll tell you, my list of things that never get done is rapidly diminishing.

Cheers to a day full of happiness!
Crystal

[Jen Koretsky]

Thanks for sharing your success and providing some inspiration, Crystal. Kudos to you! :)