You Don’t Have to Fit into Neurotypical Ways of Being

Embracing the Authentic you

As I continued in this series, it felt like I was sharing all the ways I’ve found to “excel at work” or “meet your potential” and like so much of what I love about myself and many people in my life is the differences! We don’t need to be more productive, there’s already enough pressure for that. 

Fitting in, being productive and just powering through are corporate culture constructs that don't serve the workers. 

Two thoughts! 

One we are magic! 

Two ADHD is a disability and needs accommodation. 

My monkey mind can allow creativity, hyperfocus and care for my coworkers and friends…and can be a torture to live in, especially when I’m trying to be things I’m not. I do better when I take breaks, honor my energy, and listen to my body over structures that don’t make sense for me. By do better I mean my health including mental, emotional, physical and social, not am more productive even if that’s sometimes an offshoot. 

Embracing your own needs over what “should be” models it for others and allows our whole community to treat ourselves with a little more kindness, especially if we set up boundaries in a kind and consistent (as ADHD possible) way. (I’ll write about boundaries in the future too!) 

We are enough as is, and our needs are deserving of our care because we are worthy, as is. AND ADHD minds thrive more if we have enough dopamine in the reserve before starting to try the dreaded tasks. Yes, I’ll keep providing tools as we need to get by and jump through all the societal hoops but want to recognize that we are not broken for not fitting into a broken system.