“Do you think you have ‘smartest kid in the class’ syndrome?”
“Are you sure you aren’t just lazy?”
Two questions posed to me by a mentor. I was coming to them for help. I couldn’t concentrate. I couldn’t get my work done, or even started. I was describing very typical ADHD symptoms.
My mentor missed the truth, and diagnosed that I was smart but lazy. I skated by in school, but now that I was in the workforce, my intelligence wasn’t as powerful as my laziness.
I felt perversely relieved. Someone had finally uncovered the nasty truth that I knew about myself. I played those words like a tape in my head for years.
Even after my diagnosis with ADHD, it was hard to press “stop” on that tape. Because I was still so afraid. Afraid that I was making excuses, again, fooling everyone, again.
But my mentor’s words weren’t the truth. They were misinformed. I deserved to stop playing that tape.
What tape do you need to stop playing?
It’s amazing how those sound bytes get stuck on a loop. My tape has gets stuck on, “Why do you think you can do this? You’re not the most qualified. Other people will be better at it than you!”
Oof! That does not sound like a kind tape! Can you make a B-side that says encouraging things?