Meditation Challenge Day 2

July 26, 2016

     Day 2 of my meditation challenge. To really see and feel the benefits of meditation, I have decided to meditate every morning when I first wake up. I like the spot that I have chosen on my deck, I feel relaxed and inspired and the flowers make me happy.
     Yesterday while I was meditating, I listened to the birds and the sounds of my neighborhood. My mind kept on bouncing around from the birds, to a car starting, my dog barking and anything else I could hear. I spent most of the day beating myself up about "meditating wrong." Then I started to realize that beating myself up or wanting things to be perfect is my typical response and part of my ADHD loop. Maybe that is what I am supposed to work on and get out of meditation. Being gentle and patient with myself is one of the benefits I am looking forward to. I like this list of 100 Magical Benefits of Meditation from The Healam website!
     Today I decided to use my headphones and listen to "Natural Music." The headphones did make a difference to help cancel out the distracting noises, increase my focus and stop my pinball mind. The 10 minutes went by very quickly and I concentrated more on my breathing than the sounds around me. I happen to be an Amazon Prime member and have access to all different types of music including "Meditation Music." Love it!
     Then..... again my inner critic and interior chatter started chirping... Should I be listening to music while meditating?? Well I will let you decide for yourself.... Beginners Meditation makes a case for both. As for me, right now I have to continue using music to quiet my mind and allow me to concentrate on my breathing.

Do you use music while meditating? Do you find it helps or hinders? I am open to any and all suggestions!!

Have a great and focused day

Bridget
   

Meditation.... Day 1

Day 1 of my Meditation

Now that I know what some of the many benefits of meditation are I challenged myself to give it a try and see how it may help me manage and celebrate my ADHD. However, I am not really sure of what to do... So, I Googled meditation for beginners, and found How to Meditate for Beginners from Wiki How to do Anything.

1. Prepare for meditation:
      Since this is my first time trying meditation, my goal is to be open to the experience and follow where it might take me.  I decided to meditate first thing in the morning to start my day off on a positive note. I love the flowers on my deck and thought this was a good distraction free focal point. Most of the reading that I have done suggest meditating for 10 minutes to start, so my timer is set for 10 minutes.  Away we go.....

2. Meditation:
     I began by sitting on my yoga mat and getting myself comfortable. I try to quiet my mind and do all the things I am supposed to do- hands in a comfortable position, chin down, timer on, mouth closed, and my focus is on my breathing. That is easier said than done! My mind is all over the place and I have to remind myself to come back to my breathing. I keep on asking myself.... Did I set the timer? How long has it been? Am I doing this right? Oh look a squirrel! Back to breathing.... in through my mouth and out through my nose.....

I am not sure if I would call this meditation session a success, but I did do it for more than 10 minutes! I think being outdoors in a comfortable place was helpful as was the sounds of nature all around me. Being new to this, at times I wasn't really sure what I should be doing or feeling so I counted my breaths and listened to the birds tweeting at each other. I must say that I do feel more relaxed and ready to take on the day and am hopeful that this feeling will last all day.

With a positive attitude and energy I am going to enjoy my day!

Bridget

Meditation and ADD

Let's face it, we have all heard how wonderful meditation is for  you, especially if you have ADD.  Some studies have even claimed that it has cured it. (Not sure how if it is a neurological condition... but any hoo ) So, I thought I would give it a try and see for myself. The list of benefits from meditation is extensive, but here are my top ten, in no particular order from 76 Scientific Benefits of Meditation from the Live and Dare web site.

1. Meditation helps regulate mood and anxiety in general:
     That is a benefit for All not just people with ADD. Everyone could use a little help lowering their stress and keeping their moods in check.

2. Meditation improves your focus, attention and ability of work under stress:
     This is the crux of my ADHD. My mother has always said I have the attention span of a gnat, and she is right. If my focus and attention improves I am pretty sure I would make better decisions, which would lower my stress not increase it. No one makes good choices when they are stressed and can't focus.... or they are focused on the wrong things. Working under stress increases your anxiety... and see #1.

3. Loving- Kindness meditation improves empathy and positive relationships:
     Everybody wants positive relationships in their lives. Those connections are what feeds us and makes us feel like part of a community. If meditation can help with that it should be a requirement for all!

4. Meditation reduces reactivity:
     I admit it.... sometime I feel like my ADHD has hijacked my brain and instead of being proactive I become reactive and my best side becomes very hidden.  Not pretty!

5. Meditation increases the ability to stay focus in spite of distractions:
     Life is full of distractions and anything that will help my ability to stay focused while distractions are swirling around me is a win- win for not just me but everyone around me!

6. Mindful meditation improves rapid memory recall:
     I don't know about you but one of my most annoying ADHD symptoms is my memory recall. I have to write everything down and am the Queen of lists.

7. Mindful meditation fosters creativity:
     Being creative is an outlet for me and is one of my ADHD gifts.

8. Meditation enhances self esteem:
     I think everyone could use a self esteem boost, but people with ADD are very hard on themselves and their self esteem takes a beating.

9.  Meditation improves your health at every level.
     Even the molecular level! Healthy cells.... Life excels!

10. Meditation may make you live longer:
     That is reason enough to try it!
   
I am going to put forth my best effort and see what all this hoopla is about and determine for myself if meditation can be/ or should be part of my ADHD living plan. Join me on my adventures through the world of meditation.....

Do you meditate? Do you have ADD? Do you feel it has helped? I would love to hear from you and share experiences.

Bridget


   
   

Gadgets and Gizmos

For those of us blessed with ADHD keeping our thoughts and ideas straight can be well like.... herding cats ! But I came across a fabulous product from Google called Keep.

This app appeals to my visual and creative side- and the fluidity of the site keeps up with my ADHD side.  It is free and you can tie it right into your Google account for easy access across devices. I do like how this site works and it has helped me stream line my "To Do List." 

What works for you? I am always looking for apps to help me and make my life work better.

Bridget

One Little Word

One little word.... (OLW) One word to guide you... to ground you... to inspire you... to focus you... What word would you chose? The dictionary is full of words (some I can't believe are in there) yet if you were to pick one to be your guide for this year what would it be?

All of my adult life the word Believe has been my beacon. I am an optimistic person. I see the glass as half full. I wear rose colored glasses and I like the view. Don't get me wrong, just like everyone else I have had my share of hardships and heartbreak, but I have always believed that the life I have dreamed about is going to happen. I believe that there will be a happily ever after for me. Whenever life throws me a curve ball, I do my best to deal with it and believe it will get better.

But, there is a problem with my strategy. I can close my eyes and recite the incantation, "I Believe!" till the cows come home but if I don't actually do something than my belief can only get me so far. So Believe is my overarching word and the word I have chosen to be my OWL is Grit!

Now you may asking yourself what kind of word is grit? The dictionary defines it as: courage and resolve, strength of character and fortitude. Perseverance has never been my strongest quality, I can't tell you how many projects I have started and never finished. I have dreams and I do believe they will happen, but this year I am going to concentrate on Grit. The fortitude to put some muscle behind my dreams.

I am not expecting miracles, nor am I expecting my life to instantly change. I have obstacles in my way, one being I have ADHD. I am not using it as an excuse, I am using it to help guide me. Keeping with something is a life-skill that I am not wired with. If I lose interest in a project, I can look at it and believe it will get done, but if I don't do something it won't happen. Enter Grit! I get overwhelmed easily and sometimes am unsure of what my next step is, so I don't make any.

My focus will be on grit. Keep with something a little bit longer than I have in the past. The resolve to do one more thing to get the job done. Not necessarily finish the project but be one step closer. One step closer to my dreams and the life I have imagined.

Maybe I still have my rose colored glasses on, but like I said.... I like the view!

Have a fabulous day !

Bridget

ADHD Support

     As a woman with ADHD sometimes I find it very isolating. The very thing that makes me unique, different, energetic, and enthusiastic can be my biggest downfall. At times my ADHD is the thing that I am most proud of, and the thing that I am most embarrassed by.  I don't see the world like most people and I love to celebrate that.  But sometimes I can't see the forest through the trees and I need someone to gently point me in the direction of my dreams or I will continue to spin my wheels and not get anywhere close to where I want to go.

     There are so many fantastic resources and support on the Internet to help us on our journey. One resource is ADDitude Magazine. This web site has a wealth of support and information on a variety of ADD subjects. One feature of this web site that I love is the podcast and webinars. Listening to other adults trying to navigate their way with their own ADD or a family member's ADD makes you realize you are not alone and their is hope. When I get overwhelmed, I need someone who understands what I am feeling and how I am thinking. I do not need someone to give me that look ( you know the look I am talking about) why can't she do this it is easy...... Ah guess what? It is not easy for me and for a lot of other people too ! I also have the podcasts delivered to my smartphone via a podcast's app. I can listen wherever and whenever it is convenient for me.

    Just like everybody else I need help and support sometimes. If we look around and don't isolate ourselves there is a wealth of support just waiting for us to tap into.

Project Eye to Eye

Have you heard of the wonderful group Project Eye to Eye? It is a fabulous public service group that helps learning disabled students by using peers that personally understand and have gone through the same struggles. Students have a mentor who they can talk to build a relationship with. " It is one of the few programs that challenges the deficit and pathology driven service model stifling the LD/ADD community, and is playing a revolutionary and transformative role in empowering  students labeled with LD/ADHD, one of the most marginalized minority groups in our society." from the Project Eye to Eye website.
Project Eye to Eye
They are currently selling t-shirts and sweatshirts from cafe press with the above caption! Being a former sorority girl and ADD lady I can't wait to get one !

Online Cafe Press store

Please check out Project Eye to Eye and consider buying a shirt to help support this worthwhile group!!