ADD A to Z: Your Guide to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Download Your Copy Today

As adults with Attention Deficit
Disorder (ADD), we often find ourselves excited by new ideas and plans, but
overwhelmed by what it will take to reach the goals.



Many of my coaching clients find themselves in this situation. They make a
decision to make a change - a big change. Sometimes it's about moving up in the
world, like finding a new and better home. Sometimes the change is about pursing
a dream, like taking a passion for art and turning it into a career. And
sometimes the change involves a mental shift to become a better person, like
learning to overcome anger.



No matter what big and exciting change is on the horizon, we can sometimes find
that our impulsivity has us not only wanting - but expecting - the change to
happen much quicker than is actually possibly. We have unrealistic expectations
of what we are able to accomplish when. When this happens, disappointment, lack
of motivation, and even feelings of failure, are quite common.



When one of my clients finds them self in a situation like this, I take them
through a visualization exercise that I call "The Temple." The following
directions will allow you to use this exercise in your own life.



The Temple: A Visualization Exercise



Step 1: Pick the Goal

Pick a goal that you are excited about - a change you really want to make.



Step 2: Relax

Sit back, relax, and close your eyes. Focus on your breath going in and out, and
allow worries and concerns to be breathed away...just for a little bit.



Step 3: Visualize a Temple

Create - in your mind - the vision of a beautiful, peaceful temple. It is your
temple, and it can be anywhere. It can look any way you like. Get a very vivid
image of this temple in your mind.



The temple is your goal. When you reach your goal, you will reach your temple.




Connect with your goal. What will it feel like when you reach that goal? Think
of the emotions you will experience. Think about what it will feel like to be in
that temple.



Step 4: Visualize Your Steps

Now imagine that your temple is being raised into the sky. As your temple rises,
stairs appear. The stairs to your temple are steps to your goal.



Ask yourself, what are the steps that I need to climb in order to reach my goal?
What has to happen in order for me to reach that goal?



Are there any steps on the way to your goal that you have already achieved? If
so, visualize yourself climbing the stairs to your temple.



Step 5: Check-in With Yourself

Do this exercise on a regular basis. Each time you take a step towards your
goal, visualize yourself climbing a stair to your temple.



Understand that some steps will be easy to climb, and some will be a little
harder and will take more time. Even though it may seem like you've been working
a long time and not getting anywhere on your goal, don't lose sight of the fact
that if you are climbing the stairs, then you are making progress.



When you get impatient and frustrated about your progress, remember that life in
itself is a journey. Growth and personal progress don't happen in the temple,
they happen on the way to the temple.





About the Author

Jennifer Koretsky is a Professional ADD Management Coach who helps adults manage
their ADD and move forward in life. She encourages clients to increase
self-awareness, focus on strengths and talents, and create realistic action
plans. To subscribe to Jennifer’s free email newsletter, The ADD Management
Guide, please visit

http://www.addmanagement.com/e-newsletter.htm