Neurodivergence, while sometimes viewed as a disability, is actually a positive and beautiful thing. In my own life, I’ve struggled over the years to figure out what helps and hinders my ADHD. Since every person is wired differently, I had to work to find my strengths when the world told me that having ADHD was a bad thing. The great part? It’s a really cool thing! I’ve identified five ways that having ADHD is an asset to me instead of being a hindrance.
- INNER MORALITY: Neurodivergent people with ADHD have a strong sense of core moral values. We operate based on how the world is “supposed to” function. There’s no value in working a job or accomplishing tasks that seem pointless in the long run or bigger picture, like working the same job until we retire and die. An ADHD brain needs a higher purpose and needs to connect their actions and decisions with their moral center.
- CREATIVITY: No one thinks outside of the box better than someone with ADHD. Our minds are highly creative. We constantly have ideas flowing through our minds, wondering what can be improved upon and done better. This way of thinking inserts itself into every aspect of our lives, work, home, art, and music. I believe that art comes from the soul, which makes it a safe outlet for any ADHD creative to let loose and have fun.
- AHEAD OF THE CURVE: ADHD brains think faster than anyone else around them. Just like with our creativity, our thoughts seem to never stop moving. That constant flurry may feel like chaos, but it’s actually an asset. Busy brains allow us to anticipate and remain several steps ahead of everyone else. In my own life, I always want to simplify and make life easier for my six boys. The energy in our home probably matches the speed of my thoughts! It’s my goal to make our house as functional as possible for them as well as myself, and my ADHD allows me to anticipate and think on my feet.
- GRACE AND EMPATHY: One of the biggest strengths that ADHD people have is the capacity for grace. Because I know how hard it can be to remember to text someone back, find my own keys, or grab that one piece of paperwork I need, I find myself able to set aside plenty of grace for other people’s forgetfulness. I have greater empathy because I know that some days, the act of remembering is really hard and drains a person’s mental capacity. This strength makes me a more patient mother with my own neurodivergent kids and a better friend because I know exactly how it feels to walk through these feelings.
- RISK TAKING: The final asset I’ve found that ADHD people have is that we are risk takers. I’m not afraid to do something I’ve never done before, like building a storage chest for towels for my pool, because to me, that can be art. Art is fun and creative. Another strength! I walk forward believing my risk will work out, and with that mindset, it usually does. My quick-moving thoughts are always ready with a solution if I hit a wall.
If you feel like ADHD is nothing but a hindrance in your life, take a look at how it can function for you. Focus on the positive aspects and find where these strengths occur in your life. Once you lean into your wirings and learn how to harness them as strengths, you’ll start to declutter your mind and find routine inside the chaos.
