| The day Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps broke | | | | Many midlife ADHD women have tried and failed |
| the world record for gold medals in 2008, the | | | | so many times they are hesitant about |
| world cheered; everyone loves a winner. The fact | | | | attempting anything difficult again. The truth is you |
| that he has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity | | | | can achieve your goals. Trust yourself again, even |
| Disorder) is even more inspiring for midlife ADHD | | | | if you've failed in the past. Michael didn't win every |
| women; perhaps it's time to take a few | | | | swim meet in which he competed. But he trusted |
| swimming lessons from Michael! | | | | himself to do better. You can too. Trust yourself |
| Eight gold medal tips to find success as a midlife | | | | a little more each day. |
| ADHD woman: | | | | 6. Enlist support for your dreams |
| 1. Find your passion | | | | Michael's biggest supporter and most staunch ally |
| No one makes it to the Olympics without deep | | | | was his mother. She encouraged him when he |
| passion for their sport. Michael found his as a child; | | | | was tired, held his vision when it flagged and |
| revisit your childhood dreams to see if they still | | | | envisioned him as a winner, every day. ADHD |
| resonate for you. Granted, many ADHD women | | | | women need someone in their lives who will hold |
| are so fascinated by life, they find it difficult to | | | | a similar vision for and of them. It might be a |
| narrow their choices. Be without judgment as you | | | | family member, a coach, a pastor, therapist or |
| 'try on' your passions. Eventually one or two will | | | | friend. Whoever you choose, make sure they will |
| bubble to the surface again and again. Those are | | | | support you even when you stumble. |
| your sustainable dreams. | | | | Acknowledgement from others helps you |
| 2. Set a goal that fits YOU | | | | remember to acknowledge yourself. |
| Ignore the goals other people set for themselves | | | | 7. Paste on a positive attitude |
| or for you. Michael used his ADD brain to dream | | | | Negativity and ADHD are often intertwined, but |
| BIG, then went into action. Gauge your time, | | | | you can untangle them. Even if you don't feel |
| energy and resources to decide what is | | | | upbeat, pretend you are anyway. If you "act as |
| reasonable for you. If you're 55, walking on the | | | | if" you are happy and upbeat eventually you find |
| moon is probably unrealistic, but going to NASA's | | | | that you actually ARE happy and upbeat. Positive |
| Space Camp is absolutely achievable. | | | | psychology research shows that developing a |
| 3. Start somewhere, anywhere | | | | positive approach to life can help ensure success, |
| Midlife ADHD women are sometimes paralyzed by | | | | regardless of the goal. Michael believed he would |
| the enormity of the task ahead as they move | | | | win. His attitude was as important as his ability. |
| toward their dreams. But a former newspaper | | | | 8. Keep swimming. Keep swimming. Keep |
| editor gave me some sage advice: start | | | | swimming |
| anywhere! The pieces will fall into place no matter | | | | Michael's eighth gold medal was the result of an |
| where you begin. Michael's Olympic journey would | | | | extra half stroke he took in the final second of |
| never have happened if he had been stopped by | | | | the race. His win was measured in microseconds. |
| worry about whether he would win that elusive | | | | Even if it looks like you'll come in second -- or last |
| 8th gold medal. He jumped into the pool and | | | | -- keep moving toward your goal. ADHD women |
| started paddling. You can do the same, no matter | | | | are notorious for giving up just before they |
| what pool you jump into. | | | | succeed. Don't be one of them. Even if you |
| 4. Hyperfocus is a good thing | | | | stumble, you don't have to fall. Just keep |
| You could argue that any Olympic athlete uses | | | | swimming. Like Michael. |
| hyperfocus to achieve his or her goals. So follow | | | | Whether you're an Olympic athlete or a writer, an |
| their lead and use your ADHD hyperfocus to best | | | | administrative assistant or a business owner, you |
| advantage. Create a space and time to immerse | | | | have everything you need to succeed as a midlife |
| yourself in your dream, so you can "get into the | | | | ADHD woman. Follow these eight gold medal tips |
| zone." Make your ADHD work for you. | | | | and get the support you need to create a life you |
| 5. Trust yourself | | | | love. |