You Are Not Defective - Jim Livingstone - ADHD Optimist

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You Are Not Defective

Quick question: Have you ever tried to cut something with scissors designed for the opposite hand?

Frustrating, right? The scissors work fine for right-handed people. Your left hand works fine with left-handed scissors.

But mix the two? Suddenly you can't cut straight. Everything feels harder than it should be.

That's ADHD. Not broken scissors. Not a defective hand. Just a mismatch.

And you've been blaming yourself for struggling with right-handed scissors your entire life.

Here's what I've learned from 27 years since my late diagnosis at age 46 and from studying and compiling 40+ success stories:

The traits that make you struggle in the wrong environment are exactly what make you brilliant in the right one.

That "distracted" tendency? That's environmental scanning. You notice things others miss. You pick up on patterns, emotional undercurrents, creative connections. Your mind is constantly scanning, processing, synthesizing.

In a rigid, monotonous environment? That feels like a curse.

In a dynamic, creative, or crisis situation? That's your superpower. 

That "hyperfocus" they called obsessive? That's your capacity to dive deeper than almost anyone else when something truly matters to you. When you care about something, you don't just engage with it—you become it. You see every angle, every possibility, every detail. 

Yes, it can make boring tasks feel impossible. But it also means that when you find your passion, your work, your purpose? You're unstoppable.

That "restless energy"? That's your engine. Your drive. Your refusal to settle for mediocrity. That energy has been waiting all this time for the right direction, the right outlet, the right permission to exist.

You weren't meant to sit still in a cubicle doing repetitive tasks. You were meant to move, to create, to explore, to innovate.

That "scattered thinking" they complained about? That's pattern recognition. That's seeing connections between ideas that seem unrelated to everyone else. That's innovation, creativity, out-of-the-box problem-solving.

Linear thinkers follow the path. You create new paths.

That "impulsivity" they tried to control? That's courage. That's the willingness to take risks, to try new things, to leap before you know where you'll land. Yes, sometimes you leap too soon. But you also have the courage to leap at all—something many people never develop.

That "emotional intensity" they told you to tone down? That's passion. That's the ability to feel deeply, to care fiercely, to love with your whole heart. That's empathy that allows you to connect with others in profound ways.

The world needs your intensity. It always has.

But don't take my word for it. Look at the evidence:

These aren't historical figures or teenage stories. These are women who juggled careers, motherhood, relationships - all while having undiagnosed ADHD.

Nelly Furtado - diagnosed at 43 after having kids made her symptoms impossible to ignore

Mel B - diagnosed at 44 and said it brought "huge relief" to finally understand

Lisa Ling - diagnosed at 40 while filming a documentary about ADHD 

Martha Plimpton - diagnosed at 50 and called it "liberating"

Emma Watson managed ADHD while filming Harry Potter AND graduated from Oxford.

I've just finished compiling their stories (plus 36 more) into a free ebook called "ADHD Success Stories That Inspire."

It'll be available to download in the next couple of weeks.

Each story breaks down what actually changed for them - and what that means for you. Not theory. Not inspiration porn. Practical insights about finding environments where your ADHD brain thrives.

Reply "STORIES" and I'll send it when it's ready.

You've spent enough years trying to be someone you're not.

Let's see what happens when you finally give yourself permission to be exactly who you are.

Respect Yourself 

Jim

Download your complimentary PDF of the first two chapters.

Download your complimentary PDF of the first couple of chapters.

Or, if you want to buy a copy. 

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Expect the Best,

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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.