THOUGHTS AND COMMENTARY
A Book Excerpt From
The Road to Neuroplasticity and Change to Heal Trauma, Improve Cognitive Capacity and Maximize Performance
I have been working on a book on neuroscience that is an easy way to understand the power of your brain, your mind and the thoughts that drive your creativity, insight and intelligence. The most powerful fact about the brain is the concept of neuroplasticity or the brain’s ability to change structurally to grow, evolve and increase it’s capabilities. We do this with cognitive training and surprisingly, mindfulness meditation.
> READ MORE ABOUT NEUROPLASTICITY
> READ MORE ABOUT NEUROPLASTICITY
THE SURPRISING BENEFITS
OF ADHD
TRIFECTA OF SUPER POWERS
The trifecta of super powers may prove to make ADHD worth the struggle. Almost.
1. Hyperfocus
2. Creativity
3. Perseverance.
HYPERFOCUS is an intense form of mental concentration or visualization that focuses consciousness on a subject, topic, or task. In some individuals, various subjects or topics may also include daydreams, concepts, fiction, the imagination, and other objects of the mind.
The best benefit ADHD offers is hyperfocus Athletes know it as “In the zone” and artists know it as ”Creative Flow.” It’s the super-powered opposite of day-dreaming. According to Pepperdine University some people with ADHD may become hyperfocused and some may not. This intense focus on a task is so keen they may not even notice the world around them. The benefit to this is that the person with ADHD may work until its completion without breaking concentration. The downside? Instead of hyperfocused on what we should be working on we can be centering in on the wrong thing, like this blogger being hyperfocused on the layout of the page and not the content of the article. Many scientists, writers, and artists with ADHD have had very successful careers, because of their ability to focus on what they’re doing for hours on end.
CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION: ADHD people may be more creative and have more divergent thought. Theta waves may be involved because in such a deeply relaxed state the sub-conscious mind is more accessible and bringing with it, a state of high creativity and insight. Living with ADHD offers a different perspective on life. It may encourage an out of the box approach to tasks and situations. As a result, ADHD minds may be inventive thinkers, artists, and innovators.
When it comes to creative pursuits, studies have shown people with ADHD tend to be more creative in both controlled experiments and real-life scenarios, because their brains are more susceptible to random, 'out of the box' thoughts. A study published in the journal Child Neuropsychology that sample groups displayed greater levels of creativity in performing certain tasks than their peers without a diagnosis. The study involved drawing animals on an alien a plant (different than Earth) and creating an idea for a new toy. The findings support the idea that those with ADHD are often creative and innovative.
PERSEVERANCE is the persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. Most people with ADHD work twice as hard as neurotypicals to achieve the impossible. That struggle builds a deep determination to try again until they succeed. Thomas Edison (who probably had ADHD) put everything he had towards inventing the light bulb. It was risky but he never gave up even when it seemed impossible. It took him more than 3,000 tries before he made a functioning prototype. He risked a lot and failed even more but he make it work.
People with ADHD may share some of these common Characteristics (alphabetical order):
COMPASSION: Compassion is a consciousness of distress with a desire to alleviate it. Being "different" can make people with ADHD more compassionate. They always root for the underdogs and share unconditional love with others who are struggle. They may try to help another ADHD sufferer with ways to cope.
ENERGY: Some often have a seemingly endless amount of energy, which they can throw at school or work. Hyperactivity or restlessness can sometimes be reframed as energetic making it a positive trait. It can be channeled (coupled with hyperfocus) into a task or project. The downside of Hyperactivity is lack of focus. This energy needs to be channeled into physical exercise to burn it off.
GENEROSITY: ADHD people, especially children, may have a heightened desire to please those they cares about. They may be more giving, caring and protective. People with ADHD love to make people happy and offer a shoulder to cry on. Many people are nurses, veterinarians, and teachers. Others throw their energy into charitable work.
HUMOROUS: ADHD people can be funny and witty and often using self-depreciating humor to remind themselves that a world of perfection is boring and uninteresting. They’ve faced challenges, learned novel ways to manage symptoms, and have a heightened sense of humility and self-respect. All these traits make up a pleasant person to be around.
INTUITIVE: The average brain manages to sort and filter down all sensory inputs to a manageable 40 bits of information a second. The ADHD brain has an overload of sensory input plus issues with executive functions (sorting, filtering, deciding, discarding, prioritizing, following through, checking details, tracking progress, following procedures). There may be a lot of noise but the ADHD mind can notice things that others naturally filter out. Which is why they are intuitive (maybe almost psychic) at picking up certain things. ADHD doesn't always mean a lack of attention. It can mean noticing and paying attention to everything, even things others might miss.
MULTITASKING: Though studies say multitasking is a myth, many with ADHD thrive with multiple tasks. They can be more productive when doing more than one thing. Multitasking is not doing multiple tasks at one time but rather switching between them quickly.
OPTIMISM: Many share a hopeful and confident about the future or the successful outcome of task or project. ADHD people see the light at the end of the darkest tunnel. They pick themselves up when they fall. They smile through tears and try again.
FOCUS UNDER FIRE: In a disaster or a crisis most people’s brains overload but in ADHD the brain can actually wake up and find focus. There are a lot of ADHD minds in the ER, police department and fire brigade. When others are in crisis, they can be cool, calm and under control.
PROBLEM-SOLVER: Racing thoughts can help you devise unique solutions to tricky situations. They can always see the big picture and can visualize how pieces of a puzzle fit. They come up with long-term, highly feasible solutions. They easily think of several unrelated ideas and connect them in innovative ways.
QUICK STARTER: The ADHD minds are quick starters. They jump right in into a new project. They don’t worry or waste time doing endless research. When people are hesitant to risk or resistant to change they get stuck on the process and the procedure. It can take time to get anything done.
SPONTANEITY: Some can turn impulsivity into spontaneity. They may be the extrovert, or may be more open and willing to try new things and break free from the status quo.
PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS
According to an ADD coach Pete Quily, ADHD minds show some or many of the following characteristics:
Ability to find alternate paths to overcome obstacles
Able to take on large situations
Adaptive/collaborative
Adventurous, courageous, lives outside of boundaries
Always finding alternate routes to any given location.
Always willing to help others
Ambitious – you want to be everything when “you grow up”
Artistic
Attractive personality – magnetic due to high energy
Being able to see the big picture
Being able to see the patterns in the chaos.
Being intuitive towards others’ difficulties
Broad focus – can see more, notice things more
Can create order from chaos
Can do many projects at once
Can make people feel they are heard
Can see the big picture
Can talk about several things at one time
Can think on my feet
Career variety
Centre of attention
Comfortable talking in front of groups
Comfortable with change and chaos
Compassion for others and for themselves
Conceptualizes well
Confidence
Constantly evolving
Courageous
Creates connections easily
Creative
Creative writing
Creative – musical, artistic, “dramatic”
Dedicated
Detail-oriented
Determined to gain more control
Energetic
Eager to make friends
Eager to try new things
Empathetic, sensitive
Entrepreneurial
Excellent organizers using journals and reminders (notes etc.)
Flexible – changes as the situation requires
Fun guy to be around
Good in a crisis
Goal-oriented
Good at conceptualizing
Good at customer relations
Good at motivating self and others
Good at multitasking
Good at problem solving
Good at public speaking
Good at understanding others/mind reading – empathetic
Good conversationalist
Good delegator and good at organizing others
Good in emergency situations
Good listener
Good looking and aware of it
Good people skills
Good self esteem, energetic
Great brain-stormer
Great multitasker
Great self-company
Great sense of humour
Great storyteller
Great with kids (central figure around kids)
Hands-on workers
Hard worker
Has friendly relations with their family
Has the gift of gab
Helpful
Helps others who are also in trouble
High energy – go, go, go
Holistic thinking
Humour, very healthy, quick picking up ideas
Hyper focus !!
Hypersensitive – very empathetic and good at non-verbal communications
Idea generator
Imaginative
Impulsive (in a good way) not afraid to act
Initiators
Intelligent
Intuitive
It’s ok to not finish everything
Learning as much as I can to help children and others with ADHD
Less sleep is good (midnight to 6 am)
Like to talk a lot
Likes learning new things
Look at multidimensional sides to a situation
Lots of interests
Loves to cook and be creative
Magnetic
Master idea generator
Mentoring others/helpful
Mentoring people with low self esteem
Modesty
Move on fast – never hold a grudge
Multitasks well
Never bored and rarely boring
Never intimidated to try new things
Non-linear, multi-dimensional/edge of chaos
Not afraid to speak mind
Not contained by boundaries.
On stage and ready
Optimistic
Outgoing
Passionate
Persistent
Philosophical
Playful
Pragmatic
Problem solver
Profound
Quick thinking
Quick witted
Resourceful
Resistant
Relates to people easily
Saves money in the short term by forgetting to file tax returns
See and remember details – recount them later
Sees the big picture
Socially adaptive and flexible.
Spontaneous
Stabilizer during difficult situations
Stable
Successful
Takes initiative
Tenacious
Theoretical
Think outside the box
Thinks 2 meters ahead of the world
Thinks big, dreams big
Thorough
Tolerant
Unlimited energy
Unconventional
Unorthodox
Very creative, able to generate a lot of ideas
Very hard working to compensate – workaholic
Very intuitive
Very resourceful
Very successful
Versatile
Visionary
Visual learner
Willing to take risks
Willingness to help others
Witty
Won’t tolerate boredom
Works well under pressure
Worldly
The trifecta of super powers may prove to make ADHD worth the struggle. Almost.
1. Hyperfocus
2. Creativity
3. Perseverance.
HYPERFOCUS is an intense form of mental concentration or visualization that focuses consciousness on a subject, topic, or task. In some individuals, various subjects or topics may also include daydreams, concepts, fiction, the imagination, and other objects of the mind.
The best benefit ADHD offers is hyperfocus Athletes know it as “In the zone” and artists know it as ”Creative Flow.” It’s the super-powered opposite of day-dreaming. According to Pepperdine University some people with ADHD may become hyperfocused and some may not. This intense focus on a task is so keen they may not even notice the world around them. The benefit to this is that the person with ADHD may work until its completion without breaking concentration. The downside? Instead of hyperfocused on what we should be working on we can be centering in on the wrong thing, like this blogger being hyperfocused on the layout of the page and not the content of the article. Many scientists, writers, and artists with ADHD have had very successful careers, because of their ability to focus on what they’re doing for hours on end.
CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION: ADHD people may be more creative and have more divergent thought. Theta waves may be involved because in such a deeply relaxed state the sub-conscious mind is more accessible and bringing with it, a state of high creativity and insight. Living with ADHD offers a different perspective on life. It may encourage an out of the box approach to tasks and situations. As a result, ADHD minds may be inventive thinkers, artists, and innovators.
When it comes to creative pursuits, studies have shown people with ADHD tend to be more creative in both controlled experiments and real-life scenarios, because their brains are more susceptible to random, 'out of the box' thoughts. A study published in the journal Child Neuropsychology that sample groups displayed greater levels of creativity in performing certain tasks than their peers without a diagnosis. The study involved drawing animals on an alien a plant (different than Earth) and creating an idea for a new toy. The findings support the idea that those with ADHD are often creative and innovative.
PERSEVERANCE is the persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. Most people with ADHD work twice as hard as neurotypicals to achieve the impossible. That struggle builds a deep determination to try again until they succeed. Thomas Edison (who probably had ADHD) put everything he had towards inventing the light bulb. It was risky but he never gave up even when it seemed impossible. It took him more than 3,000 tries before he made a functioning prototype. He risked a lot and failed even more but he make it work.
People with ADHD may share some of these common Characteristics (alphabetical order):
COMPASSION: Compassion is a consciousness of distress with a desire to alleviate it. Being "different" can make people with ADHD more compassionate. They always root for the underdogs and share unconditional love with others who are struggle. They may try to help another ADHD sufferer with ways to cope.
ENERGY: Some often have a seemingly endless amount of energy, which they can throw at school or work. Hyperactivity or restlessness can sometimes be reframed as energetic making it a positive trait. It can be channeled (coupled with hyperfocus) into a task or project. The downside of Hyperactivity is lack of focus. This energy needs to be channeled into physical exercise to burn it off.
GENEROSITY: ADHD people, especially children, may have a heightened desire to please those they cares about. They may be more giving, caring and protective. People with ADHD love to make people happy and offer a shoulder to cry on. Many people are nurses, veterinarians, and teachers. Others throw their energy into charitable work.
HUMOROUS: ADHD people can be funny and witty and often using self-depreciating humor to remind themselves that a world of perfection is boring and uninteresting. They’ve faced challenges, learned novel ways to manage symptoms, and have a heightened sense of humility and self-respect. All these traits make up a pleasant person to be around.
INTUITIVE: The average brain manages to sort and filter down all sensory inputs to a manageable 40 bits of information a second. The ADHD brain has an overload of sensory input plus issues with executive functions (sorting, filtering, deciding, discarding, prioritizing, following through, checking details, tracking progress, following procedures). There may be a lot of noise but the ADHD mind can notice things that others naturally filter out. Which is why they are intuitive (maybe almost psychic) at picking up certain things. ADHD doesn't always mean a lack of attention. It can mean noticing and paying attention to everything, even things others might miss.
MULTITASKING: Though studies say multitasking is a myth, many with ADHD thrive with multiple tasks. They can be more productive when doing more than one thing. Multitasking is not doing multiple tasks at one time but rather switching between them quickly.
OPTIMISM: Many share a hopeful and confident about the future or the successful outcome of task or project. ADHD people see the light at the end of the darkest tunnel. They pick themselves up when they fall. They smile through tears and try again.
FOCUS UNDER FIRE: In a disaster or a crisis most people’s brains overload but in ADHD the brain can actually wake up and find focus. There are a lot of ADHD minds in the ER, police department and fire brigade. When others are in crisis, they can be cool, calm and under control.
PROBLEM-SOLVER: Racing thoughts can help you devise unique solutions to tricky situations. They can always see the big picture and can visualize how pieces of a puzzle fit. They come up with long-term, highly feasible solutions. They easily think of several unrelated ideas and connect them in innovative ways.
QUICK STARTER: The ADHD minds are quick starters. They jump right in into a new project. They don’t worry or waste time doing endless research. When people are hesitant to risk or resistant to change they get stuck on the process and the procedure. It can take time to get anything done.
SPONTANEITY: Some can turn impulsivity into spontaneity. They may be the extrovert, or may be more open and willing to try new things and break free from the status quo.
PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS
According to an ADD coach Pete Quily, ADHD minds show some or many of the following characteristics:
Ability to find alternate paths to overcome obstacles
Able to take on large situations
Adaptive/collaborative
Adventurous, courageous, lives outside of boundaries
Always finding alternate routes to any given location.
Always willing to help others
Ambitious – you want to be everything when “you grow up”
Artistic
Attractive personality – magnetic due to high energy
Being able to see the big picture
Being able to see the patterns in the chaos.
Being intuitive towards others’ difficulties
Broad focus – can see more, notice things more
Can create order from chaos
Can do many projects at once
Can make people feel they are heard
Can see the big picture
Can talk about several things at one time
Can think on my feet
Career variety
Centre of attention
Comfortable talking in front of groups
Comfortable with change and chaos
Compassion for others and for themselves
Conceptualizes well
Confidence
Constantly evolving
Courageous
Creates connections easily
Creative
Creative writing
Creative – musical, artistic, “dramatic”
Dedicated
Detail-oriented
Determined to gain more control
Energetic
Eager to make friends
Eager to try new things
Empathetic, sensitive
Entrepreneurial
Excellent organizers using journals and reminders (notes etc.)
Flexible – changes as the situation requires
Fun guy to be around
Good in a crisis
Goal-oriented
Good at conceptualizing
Good at customer relations
Good at motivating self and others
Good at multitasking
Good at problem solving
Good at public speaking
Good at understanding others/mind reading – empathetic
Good conversationalist
Good delegator and good at organizing others
Good in emergency situations
Good listener
Good looking and aware of it
Good people skills
Good self esteem, energetic
Great brain-stormer
Great multitasker
Great self-company
Great sense of humour
Great storyteller
Great with kids (central figure around kids)
Hands-on workers
Hard worker
Has friendly relations with their family
Has the gift of gab
Helpful
Helps others who are also in trouble
High energy – go, go, go
Holistic thinking
Humour, very healthy, quick picking up ideas
Hyper focus !!
Hypersensitive – very empathetic and good at non-verbal communications
Idea generator
Imaginative
Impulsive (in a good way) not afraid to act
Initiators
Intelligent
Intuitive
It’s ok to not finish everything
Learning as much as I can to help children and others with ADHD
Less sleep is good (midnight to 6 am)
Like to talk a lot
Likes learning new things
Look at multidimensional sides to a situation
Lots of interests
Loves to cook and be creative
Magnetic
Master idea generator
Mentoring others/helpful
Mentoring people with low self esteem
Modesty
Move on fast – never hold a grudge
Multitasks well
Never bored and rarely boring
Never intimidated to try new things
Non-linear, multi-dimensional/edge of chaos
Not afraid to speak mind
Not contained by boundaries.
On stage and ready
Optimistic
Outgoing
Passionate
Persistent
Philosophical
Playful
Pragmatic
Problem solver
Profound
Quick thinking
Quick witted
Resourceful
Resistant
Relates to people easily
Saves money in the short term by forgetting to file tax returns
See and remember details – recount them later
Sees the big picture
Socially adaptive and flexible.
Spontaneous
Stabilizer during difficult situations
Stable
Successful
Takes initiative
Tenacious
Theoretical
Think outside the box
Thinks 2 meters ahead of the world
Thinks big, dreams big
Thorough
Tolerant
Unlimited energy
Unconventional
Unorthodox
Very creative, able to generate a lot of ideas
Very hard working to compensate – workaholic
Very intuitive
Very resourceful
Very successful
Versatile
Visionary
Visual learner
Willing to take risks
Willingness to help others
Witty
Won’t tolerate boredom
Works well under pressure
Worldly
STARLIGHT POETRY BY KAI
View Me on Twitter @kairosoflife
See Creativity Chaos - a Creativity Blog by Kai
About | Reprints & Copyrights | Home
© 2019-2020 Copyright Starlight Poetry
VIEW FULL SITE DIRECTORY
View Me on Twitter @kairosoflife
See Creativity Chaos - a Creativity Blog by Kai
About | Reprints & Copyrights | Home
© 2019-2020 Copyright Starlight Poetry
VIEW FULL SITE DIRECTORY