The ADHD Brain’s Guide to Radical Self Acceptance

In this episode you’ll learn:

1. What it actually means to have self acceptance and why saving it for your future, better self is a bad plan

2. How to accept ADHD as an explanation and not an excuse for your behavior

3. What committing to self acceptance can look like. I offer a contract (a copy of which you can find below) you can sign between you and you that spells out exactly how to create self acceptance on the daily. I encourage you to copy and paste it, print it out, sign it and keep it somewhere where you can see it.

I, the undersigned ADHDer and incredible human commit to:

• Having compassion for myself when in the midst of struggle. No matter how much I screw things up—and especially when I screw things up—I will be kind to myself.

• I will create a safe space within myself where I have a soft place to land. This space is free from negative self talk, blame and shame. And from that place of safety I know the bravery to take the leap into action toward my goals will come naturally. I know that fear of a fatal jump is what keeps me in procrastination. Creating this safety is one of the key ways that I free myself to take brave action.

• I celebrate myself for small wins. If it felt hard for me and I did it, I celebrate it—even if I think no one else would consider it a win.

  • Actually running the dishwasher: win

  • Working out today even if you haven’t been consistent with it for weeks: win

  • Showing up and writing for 35 min when you thought you had zero minutes in you: huge freaking win

• I accept my recurring ADHD symptoms without personal judgment–including distractibility, time blindness, impulsiveness, forgetfulness and disorganization. Acceptance doesn’t mean that I don’t work on improving my skills—it’s simply a recognition that because of the structure of my brain I have the natural tendency toward certain behaviors.

• I accept that I’m responsible for any negative results of these symptoms–and I do so with an attitude of self-kindness and self-support

• I set realistic standards for myself that account for my neurological disadvantages and I create accommodations to support myself.

Your signature here: ______________