“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when? “
~ Rabbi Hillel
Rabbi Hillel really captures what it means to Value Yourself in the above quote.
It is important to view the process of Valuing Oneself as a critical step in reaching one’s goals. Adults with ADHD (and many other people) may find this step hard to get up. However, if you miss this step, you may find yourself lying flat on your face, feeling pretty bruised.
More often than not, accomplishing goals is about taking one step at a time up a staircase, rather than simply opening a door and stepping over the threshold.
I wrote about the first step on this staircase, Knowing Yourself, in the article, ADD, College and Success: Is There A Blueprint? The title of the article should have been “ADHD, Life and Success…”
So, how do you take this second step?
Accept Yourself
Accept yourself. As Popeye said: “I yam what I am yam.” If you have traits that get in the way of reaching your goals, by all means, find a way to modify them. If you like these traits, try utilizing them in contexts that will not hinder you in accomplishing what you want. Changing just because someone else wants you to change probably will not work.
Admire strengths that come from uniqueness. Yes, there are many strengths that come from being uniquely ADD, like being creative, intuitive, energetic, and able to think outside the box, to name a few. There are many more! What strengths do you know of that may come from having ADD?
Recognize and respect your rights. For example, if you need accommodations, ask for them. All people have the right to be treated with respect.
Recognize and respect your responsibilities. Are you using your strengths to contribute to your chosen communities, including your loved ones, colleagues, neighbors and friends, to name a few? If you are not, how does this reflect on your sense of self worth?
Take care of Yourself. Maybe I should have put this one first. Exercise, eat well, read and relax are tops on my list. What do you need to take care of yourself?
As is often said: You need to take care of yourself before your can adequately take care of others.
Need Help
Need help creating a self-care plan? Contact me for a complimentary Strategy Session and we can talk about how I can help you.