Permission to Follow My Brain’s Radar
ADHD Education
I used to have a hard time finishing a book.
One of the major beliefs that impeded my ability to read and comprehend material was a belief that I must read every page in a book consecutively. If the book contained 300 pages, I would start reading on page one and, if I eventually made it as far as page 79, and it didn’t hold my attention, I would put the book down and never pick it up again.
"I realize now that my belief around the proper way to read a book was so strong that I didn’t even give myself permission to skip over pages and continue reading the parts of the book that interested me.
Had I focused on what was interesting to me, those parts of the book would have let my brain automatically engage my attention long enough to process the words so I could understand them. I could have used that momentum to eventually finish the whole book — my way.
Today, I know that with my ADHD I need to give myself permission to identify those sections of a book that immediately attract my interest.
If I pressure myself to read the first few pages, even if they might not be very interesting or exciting, I automatically give up my right to learn other, more stimulating information contained therein simply because I believe there is only one way to “officially” read the book.
I currently have six books by my bedside, all being read in different stages. I started reading all of them from the chapters that immediately grabbed my attention. I did not start reading any of them on page one. I tried, but the content could not hold my focus.
Reading “my way” may sound like a simple choice, but it required a tough process of challenging old beliefs that were ingrained from the time I was in primary school, when the education system told me how I was “supposed” to read and learn.
I know that whenever I give myself permission to follow my brain’s radar and am directed by my natural areas of interest, I will not only read and enjoy the book; my comprehension and understanding of the main concepts will be significantly enhanced."
An excerpt from the book: Permission to Proceed, The Keys to Creating a Life of Passion, Purpose and Possibility for Adults with ADHD, by David Giwerc, Founder/President, ADD Coach Academy, Master Certified ADHD Coach, MCAC, MCC
