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21 Day Solution to Taking Control of ADD! (Track This Article)

Who's the Boss over your thinking process? If you have ADD, it's your thinking process that's the Boss. Sound like doubletalk? Well, it's a fact. So, here are 10 ways to be the boss of your thoughts and, therefore, the quality of your life.

At first glance, it would seem that positive thinking and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) have nothing to do with one another. But if you have ADD you know that you have uncontrolled thinking patterns. You develop those patterns because you become frustrated by personal challenges and frequent feelings of being overwhelmed. You simply cannot focus long enough to complete a single task. This uncontrolled thinking then makes it even harder to manage those challenges and move forward.

This solution is no substitute for professional help. If you are being treated by a physician, do NOT stop treatment. This solution will help mild ADD cases or anyone who has trouble focusing on tasks or goals.

Practicing these techniques will help you focus on strengths and accomplishments, which increases happiness and motivation. This, in turn, allows you to spend more time making progress and less time feeling down and stuck.

Write down the following tips or print this article and keep this list handy and refer to it daily for 21 Days. It takes 21 Days to change a habit and your thinking process has become a habit. Follow these practical suggestions and you will see your thoughts shift into more positive thinking patterns and, before you realize it, you will become the Boss of your thinking process:

1. Take good care of your physical self. It's much easier to be positive when you are eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest.

2. Remind yourself of the things you are grateful for. Stresses and challenges don't seem quite as bad when you are constantly reminding yourself of the things that are right in life. Taking just 60 seconds a day to stop and appreciate the good things will make a huge difference.

3. Look for the proof instead of making assumptions. A fear of not being liked or accepted sometimes leads us to assume that we know what others are thinking, but our fears are usually not reality. If you have a fear that a friend or family member's bad mood is due to something you did, assume it's not something you did. If you did do something, trust me, they eventually will let you know. Don't waste time worrying that you did something wrong unless you have proof that there is something to worry about.

If you think that your co-workers are secretly gossiping about you behind your back, assume they are not talking about you at all. Keep on doing the job you are paid for. They obviously are not doing their jobs if they have time to gossip. The only person you shouldbe concerned about is your immediate boss. If the boss is happy with your work, do you care who is gossiping?

4. Refrain from using absolutes. Have you ever told a partner, "You're always late!", or complained to a friend, "You never call me!". Thinking and speaking in absolutes like 'always' and 'never' makes the situation seem worse than it is and programs your brain into believing that certain people cannot be trusted to keep their word. Absolutes destroy trust in others.

5. Detach from negative thoughts. Your thoughts can't hold any power over you if you don't judge them. If you notice yourself having a negative thought, detach from it, witness it, and don't follow it. Question it: "Where did that come from?"

6. Squash the "ANTs". I absolutely love this one. In his book "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life," Dr. Daniel Amen talks about "ANTs" - Automatic Negative Thoughts. These are the bad thoughts that are usually reactionary, like "Those people are laughing, they must be laughing at me," or "The boss wants to see me? It must be bad!" When you notice these thoughts, realize that they are nothing more than "ANTs" and squash them! I mean, where is your proof that the thought is true?

7. Practice Lovin', Touchin' & Squeezin' (Your Friends and Family). You don't have to be an expert to know the benefits of a good hug. Positive physical contact with friends, loved ones, and even pets, is an instant pick-me-up. One research study on this subject had a waitress touch some of her customers on the arm as she handed them their checks. She received higher tips from these customers than from the ones she didn't touch! And, we all know about using pets in nursing homes so the elderly can give and receive unconditional love, even if it's focused on a pet. This is so important to your mental state. Try to find someone to share love with every day.

8. Increase your social activity. This is a major stumbling block for folks with ADD. With all the negative thinking bouncing around the mind, it's hard to be around groups of people. However, by increasing social activity, you decrease loneliness. Surround yourself with healthy, happy people, and their positive energy will affect you in a positive way! Start by going to a funny movie and laugh with the crowd. Walk around the shopping mall just to be around total strangers for an hour or so.

9. Volunteer at an organization or directly help another person. Everyone feels good after helping. You can volunteer your time, your money, or your talent. The more positive energy you put out into the world, the more you will receive in return. You will get a big ego boost when you see how much your helping hand is appreciated.

10. Use pattern interrupts to combat rumination. In case you don't know the meaning of rumination, it is hyper-focusing on something negative. It's never productive, because it's not rational or solution-oriented, it's just excessive worry.
If you find yourself ruminating, a great way to stop it is to interrupt the thought process and force yourself to do something completely different. Try changing your physical environment - go for a walk or sit outside. You could also call a friend, pick up a book, or turn on some music.

This is the 21 Day solution to taking control of your thoughts and your life. Now you likely will not be able to carry out all 10 things on this list, Do not be negative about it. Give yourself some positive credit for the ones you have focused upon each day. Keep at it until you have focused on each one, one-by-one, for 21 Days.

Yours for Success in Life!
Jim DeSantis

P.S. - Please forward this article to someone who may benefit from it.
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Article Castle - Articles Resources: http://www.articlecastle.com

Jim DeSantis has Associate Degrees in Pastoral Counseling and Christian Theology. Go to Jim's Blog for lots of free resources and links about your personal challenges.

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