To be honest, not all things that distract me are important. Often, thoughts pop into my head or someone says something that sends me down a rabbit hole, and my productivity goes out the window. This isn’t really a surprise considering that I am ADHD.
Doctors use the term “internal distractibility” for the distracting thoughts a person with ADHD has, and many say the condition should be “treated.” Others do not see ADHD as a disorder to be cured but rather a neurological variation to be appreciated. These therapists say that distractibility can be a source of creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
Recently, many sources, such as Medical News Today and NeuroLaunch, state that people with ADHD have a number of superpowers. These include heightened creativity, focus, problem solving, imagination, compassion, perseverance, resilience, and spontaneity. While someone doesn’t have to have ADHD to have these abilities, they are common among those who do.
Many famous creative people have been diagnosed with ADHD, and scientists suspect there have been many more through history who, while not diagnosed, probably had it. This includes people like John Lennon, Ernest Hemingway, Virginia Woolf, Vincent Van Gogh, and even Leonardo da Vinci.
My third resolution for year is to not bemoan the challenges that my neurodiversity brings. Instead, I’m going to strive to appreciate its benefits.