ADHD - Altered Identity - Jim Livingstone - ADHD Optimist

ADHD - Altered Identity

 YOUR IDENTITY

Your identity plays a critical role in the results you get in life. You can’t change your life without altering your current identity.

Your identity is the story you have repeatedly told yourself, based entirely on your old beliefs and the meaning you have given to your experiences throughout your life.

The entry point to altering your identity lies in shifting your beliefs about yourself and about what is and isn’t possible. For example, if you believe that you cannot change your identity (i.e. a fixed belief system and fixed mindset), then lasting change will not be possible, no matter how strong your desire is.

WHY ARE YOU LIMITING YOURSELF?

The tighter you cling to your old identity, the harder it is to build a new one. Your identity needs to be flexible like water, flowing around changing circumstances.

You have all the abilities within you to accomplish anything you desire. What fears are stopping you from claiming the life of your dreams?

Every fear and excuse you have can be traced back to your identity. Your brain will try to use fear and procrastination to stop you from changing your beliefs and identity … tell it to take a hike.

You have to recreate your reality and identity the way you want it to be. Choose your new identity, then develop the beliefs, character traits, skills and values necessary to build that altered identity.

RELEASE YOUR OLD IDENTITY

Living in alignment with your new beliefs helps you to get rid of the old excess baggage you are carrying around.

First, accept that, for some reason, you have developed this old identity, and now you want to create a new, empowering one.

Without judgement, feeling guilty, blaming yourself or others, acknowledge that your identity was simply false beliefs and repeated patterns you developed without being aware that they were stopping you from achieving your dreams and goals.

Control your emotions and let go of any negative feelings so you can focus your positive energy on your new identity, which will help you to achieve what you want.

 To create your new identity, you have to be willing to let go of the old one.

Here are some effective ways to transform how you see yourself and expand what you believe you're capable of:

1. Examine your current beliefs and narratives - Identify limiting beliefs about yourself ("I'm not creative," "I can't learn technical skills," etc.) and consciously challenge them.

2. Use identity-based habits - Focus on becoming the type of person who does certain things rather than just doing those things. For example, shift from "I want to write a book" to "I am a writer."

3. Visualize your ideal self - Create a clear mental image of who you want to become and regularly visualize yourself as that person.

4. Change your environment - Surround yourself with people who embody qualities you aspire to develop.

5. Adopt new language patterns - Pay attention to how you talk about yourself and deliberately shift your vocabulary (e.g., from "I'm trying to" to "I am").

6. Pursue small wins - Build evidence that contradicts your limiting beliefs by accomplishing small, related goals.

7. Practice reflection - Regularly journal about your growth and changes you notice in yourself.

Develop new skills - Learning something challenging expands your sense of what's possible.

I've created ADHD-friendly worksheets to help you explore and alter your self-identity. Here's what makes it particularly suited for someone with ADHD:

1. Broken into manageable sections with clear time estimates

2. Visual organisation with icons and formatting to maintain interest

3. Multiple formats for expression (writing, drawing, voice notes)

4. Short-form responses instead of requiring lengthy writing

5. Built-in breaks and energy check-ins

6. Specific strategies for working with ADHD traits rather than against them

7. Micro-steps approach to make change more achievable

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This site is not intended to provide and does not constitute medical, legal, or other professional advice. The content in this newsletter is designed to support, not replace, medical or psychiatric treatment. Please seek professional help if you believe you may have Mental Health Issues.