Thursday, April 16, 2009

VAM: Action is the bridge to success

Visualization is a perfect fit for ADHD. I advocate visualization. I say, "Visualize, Visualize, Visualize!"

However, visualization isn't a guarantee for success until you take Action.

I call the key to achieving results, VAM! Visualize-Act-Manifest.

The A provides the bridge from visualizing results to manifesting results. Without action, visualization may result in nothing other than a pipe dream. Nice, comforting, relaxing, thoughts that never manifest.

Like others with ADHD, I am a dreamer. Visualization is one of our strongest traits. Over the years, I visualized fantastic dreams, ideas, plans, and made detailed note of them. The bottom drawer of a file cabinet overflows with these unfulfilled dreams.

Unfulfilled because I took no action.

Identify your dreams. Qualify your dreams. What is most important to you now? Turn it into a positive affirmation, and visualize its manifestation right now. How it looks, feels, tastes, smells, and sounds. Do not veer. All thoughts, positive or negative, are affirmations. Hold steadfast with your dream. Guard your thoughts. Give consistent messages to the unconscious mind.

Take action. Listen as the unconscious mind directs you to steps that make the physical manifestation congruent with what it believes within.

Avoid your dreams going up in smoke.


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Visit http://theabcsofadhd.com/ and the archives at http://keenehealth.icontact.com/ for management of ADHD

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Take control of your mind

The ADD mind talks incessantly. We start on one project, it tells us to do another. We drop the task and jump to the new one without thinking. Thus, we are jerked around, jumping from one thing and then another, accomplishing nothing at day's end.

It is time to tell the mind in no uncertain terms to Shut Up. Otherwise, the ADD mind continues the fun and games at our expense.

Establish control. It's the only way to ignore impulsive suggestions. A good start is to recite affirmations such as, I am in complete control of my mind. I control the tasks I do today.

However, that in itself is not enough.

Identify planned tasks for the day. (Yes, that smacks of organization, something missing or not high on the list for most readers of this blog. Get some helpful organization tips here: http://hubpages.com/hub/Organization-is-a-4-letter-Word)

Taking charge of the mind is more than changing the impulse for a peanut butter-jelly sandwich into a tunafish sandwich.

You determine what you are going to do and when you are going to do it by making a plan, and following the plan.

Start small with only two or three projects to accomplish on a given day. Remain determined to not start other projects before completing those identified in your plan. Constantly affirm being in charge of all actions. Be on guard for impulses to strike. When an impulsive behavior strikes, say, "I am in charge of what I do. Right now, I choose to complete (task).

Using a plan of action and affirming control of your actions, can prevent events such as this story reported by an anonymous ADHD client.

I was working on a project with a due deadline when my thirst kicked in. I headed for the kitchen to refill my water container. Reaching the kitchen, I looked into the pantry for a snack. The pantry was a disgusting mess. I decided right then and there to give it a good cleaning. I proceeded to take everything out, wipe down the shelves, separate what needed tossed, and rearrange the good stuff in some type of order. While doing this, it dawned on me that I had forgotten to call (friend) to cancel a previous plan. I made the call and got pulled into a lengthy discussion. While listening to my friend, I turned on the television. Long after the call ended I sat there mesmerized by this program until I jumped up to get a drink of water. Entering the kitchen, I was faced with this awful sight. Contents from the pantry were scattered everywhere. They covered the counters, stove-top and the table. Even the kitchen sink. What a mess! I couldn't deal with it, so I just left the house. I had dinner, did some shopping and took in a movie. Came home and went to bed.

Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon story. The symptoms of ADHD not only result in hours of unproductive time, but may cover days, weeks, months, and even more. Fortunately, the symptoms of ADHD can be managed and turned into success.


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Paul is a natural health consultant specializing in personal performance issues. He can be contacted at paul@keenehealth.net or paul@theabcsofadhd.com .

Visit Paul's websites:

http://www.keenehealth.net/ and http://www.theabcsofadhd.com/

Thursday, April 2, 2009

The ADHD mind needs to take time out

The ADHD mind runs a continual marathon throughout the day. No wonder that focus is the chief problem for ADHD or that it is known as the focus disorder. Visual images flash in our heads continuously demanding attention. Not just one screen, but multiple screens. It is no small feat keeping up with all of them, but we give it our best shot, and do it surprisingly well.

Granted, it is difficult to do this, and listen to others at the same time. Others as in teachers, parents, supervisors, spouses, friends, anyone, or anything.

When you say to us in total disbelief, "How can you not remember me asking you to pick Georgie up from daycare? You looked right at me, close enough I could smell the coffee on your breath!" We really do not remember.

But, there is hope for us.

We can learn to quiet the mind. We can give our mind short breaks throughout the day. We can learn to slow the mind down and to clear multiple screens allowing focus on one. One as in the person speaking to us.

Techniques such as meditation, visualization, and guided imagery assist in quieting the mind, slowing it down. Eventually it may come to rest, lost in the stillness of the universe.