Creating an effective support system is one of the most vital (and often overlooked) aspects of working with ADD/ADHD challenges. How do we create a context for receiving useful support from others on a regular basis?
A “support system” can take many forms (one-on-one life coaching, business coaching, groups, etc.), but it should always address one very important need — consistency. To achieve our goals, and maintain balance, consistency is essential. And for us hunter-types, it’s typically the vitamin we’re deficient in. Although we tend to have tremendous gifts of creativity and out- of-the-box thinking, these gifts often come at a cost. Consistency, especially as it relates to mid-to-long term planning, can be extremely difficult for us, even if we’re doing all the right things to support our health.
So, what does an effective support system look like, and how do we create it? This is the place where many of us get stuck.
Life coaching is a fairly recent phenomena. The term itself didn’t enter into our modern lexicon until the mid-1990s.
Still in its infancy as a profession, it’s most commonly associated with business coaching, and has become increasingly popular for people who are self-employed. And for good reason. Life coaching, when done skillfully, can have dramatic results. It creates a context to receive support in a way that really didn’t exist previously in our society.
Although it can take many forms, life coaching is primarily about support. It’s a process by which a person receives focused support in all aspects of their life, on a regular basis. It involves looking at “the whole picture” of your life, so you don’t get caught up in all the tiny little details that tend to weigh us down on a daily basis.
Life coaching has already proven itself to be an extremely effective tool for us hunter-types. In fact, there are now many life coaches that specialize exclusively in working with people with ADD/ADHD challenges.
Although having a professional life coach to speak with on a weekly basis can be immensely supportive, not everyone can afford this. The “4 Step Life Coaching” model, covered in the book, provides a means of getting effective support right now — regardless of your current financial situation.
