You are definitely not alone in this, Tii333!  After so many years (decades) of only focusing on and seeing our shortfalls, and not seeing our accomplishments (although I’d be willing to be there were plenty even BEFORE the meds!), that’s a hard pattern to change!  It’s also one of the most rewarding changes I see in clients when they get there.  It takes vigilence, practice and hard work, but it’s definitely something you can change and improve! 

For the most part, it’s all about “Paying attention to what you’re paying attention to,” and that’s something you can learn to do differently. It takes a conscious, deliberate effort to acknowledge and celebrate each accomplishment (no matter how small and “trivial” it may seem), because each individual accomplishment is moving you one step closer to feeling more productive and fulfilled. And that’s really what it’s about—fulfmillment.  It’s not about how many to-do items you can tack off in a day, it’s about how you feel about the meaningful things in your life and about you reaching your potential. 

It’s was a hard thing for me to learn myself, but I deliberately decide (in advance) how I’m going to reward myself when I accomplish something.  For the little “to-dos” that are a little harder for me to get started on (like paperwork, for example), the reward might be a simple 15-minute break doing something a little indulging like playing a computer game in the middle of the work day or setting my timer and sitting outside or calling a friend to chat.  For the bigger things, I will plan something more proportional—a party at my house when I completed refinishing my kitchen cabinets, or taking my family out to dinner when I sign a new client.  You get the point.

But it needs to be deliberate, and you need to follow through and really BELIEVE that each accomplishment is worth of celebrating! 

If you don’t pat yourself on the back every once in a while, who will?

Lynne Edris, ACG
Life & ADD Coach
http://www.CoachingADDvantages.com

Wow!  Thank you for that!  That’s completely right!  But I think I might feel a little uncomfortable rewarding myself for doing something that’s expected or that other people do with little or no effort.  But, I guess I need to stop comparing myself and get over that old mentality.

Right on!
I am newly diagnosed age 58.
Before they labeled me bi-polar but this ADD is a more accurate fit.
All my life I have berated myself. Lack of achievement and comments by others of “slow or stupid” they have undermined my actual abilities.
Those words keep coming back but I am working on changing them. Don’t stop working on it.
Your life isn’t over until it’s over. I also compare myself to others and every little percieved criticism is blown up big in my mind.
Any rejection… a recent love left….is a condemnation of me. So lots of work to do.
Read “Delivered From Distraction”. Excellent book.