I saw this sign near the railroad tracks and immediately thought of transitions. Some of us fear them. Change can be difficult, but if you know it’s coming, it’s doesn’t have to feel like a rough crossing. It can be smooth sailing. In fact, just having a positive mindset can make a huge difference already. Something different is coming. Woohoo! Adventure awaits! Bring it on! What do I need to do to get ready?  

If you weren’t afraid, what would you do? What would be possible in your life if you did that?  What is life asking you to do differently? What is your biggest fear about that? What is your vision? What’s holding you back the most? What are you waiting for? What do you need to let go of to have what you want? Just. Let. Go. And fly!

Adela here! This week I finished my vision boards. I'd been talking about vision boards with different clients and realized I hadn’t made my own in a while, so it was time. I'd made online vision boards (for instance, while designing my house, I used Houzz and Pinterest to collect ideas). But if I really wanted to turn my dreams into reality, I needed to be reminded on a daily basis. I personally didn’t want them on my phone. I needed a good, old fashioned, bulletin board of inspirational images.

ADDitude Magazine has compiled some inspiring quotes from amazing celebrities diagnosed with ADHD. Love the positive way of thinking that these celebs demonstrate! Check it out, and get in touch with Mind Coach NOLA if you or a loved one wants to understand and harness the strengths of an ADHD/ADD-diagnosis by working with an ADHD coach in the New Orleans area, or online from anywhere in the U.S.!

The article "The Opposite of Distracted. The Epitome of Productive" over at ADDitude Magazine offers a quick explanation about hyperfocus and how to harness that incredible ability to your advantage. Many people struggle to find their state of flow, their bliss, to get in the groove. Whatever you want to call it, you've got it naturally! Go, innovator brain!

Emily Rose Barr has written a beautiful article over at Daily Good, titled "Mind the Stream: Where Mindfulness and Technology Meet." She reflects on our society's mindless consumption of technology, and asks how we might be more aware of the time we spend isolated and glued to our devices:

Are you stuck on a college major? Or just stuck in general? Maybe it's time to switch careers or add a new one to your resume. ADDitude Magazine has published a list of careers that work well with the innovator brain titled "8 Dream Jobs for the Easily Bored and Consistently Creative."

"Decoding Brain Function: Shedding Light On the Anterior Cingulate Cortex and Its Ties to Learning," over at NeuroscienceNews.com, presents new research on the brain from scientists at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Think of the day as a series of choices to be made. One at a time, you are in control of making your little choices and controlling your destiny. Katy Rollins at ADDitude Magazine offers a few gems of wisdom to help see the "big picture" of an ADHD diagnosis:

I lived in the Netherlands for about 8 years. Now, I know there are exceptions to every rule, and diversity in every group, so bear with me while I make some generalizations about a group of people I adore (heck, I even married one!). While I lived in the Netherlands, most of my experience was in international corporate coaching.

Innovator Brains dream BIG and often. You are the creators, inventors, and writers of our future. Turning a dream into a reality requires action... and that can be so, so hard. You have to figure out what needs to be done, break down the action items into smaller tasks, think about what resources you need, and then put it all in order. And you have to follow through and do it all on time. Who can help you make your dream a reality? Me!

People often ask, "What's the difference between ADHD or life coaching and therapy?" While there are many styles of coaching and many types of therapy, there are some general differences:

In previous blog posts, we've been discussing how you know when you're done with your ADHD Coach or Life Coach. Adela Baker of Mind Coach NOLA has offered her checklist of skills the client has successfully acquired. She has also responded to the question, "What if I relapse? Can I come back to Mind Coach NOLA?" 

Hey there. How are you doing? There's a lot of sadness in our world this week, after Sunday's shooting in Las Vegas, and sometimes the heaviness of the world, compounded with struggles in our personal lives, can feel deeply overwhelming!

What's your daily special time with your ADHD kid? For me, it's walking to and from school together, here in New Orleans. We have other special times, too, but this is my son's favorite part of our day, when we sing, walk the dogs, get psyched for the school day, and, after school, review how the day went or what activities are planned in the afternoon or evening. 

The innovator brain is an impulsive one. How do you keep it in check? Try the stoplight technique!

Last week, Adela Baker of Mind Coach NOLA shared how she knows a client is done, and ready to put his or her new skills into use. She discussed her "checklist" that demonstrates a client's happiness, personal successes, and sense of control over life, whether she is coaching that client on their goals, as a Life Coach, or their executive function skills, as an ADHD Coach.

Mind Coach NOLA's social media manager here, with a few more questions for Adela Baker, ADHD coach, executive function coach, and life coach extraordinaire! 

A question I often get asked here at Mind Coach NOLA by people curious about ADHD or executive function coaching is: “How do you know when you’re done?” In my experience, it usually takes at least three months to retrain the brain and develop the skills to experience and feel success. The final goal is achieving happiness, balance and fulfillment. But how do you measure that?

"Good to Go (to College)" by Marissa Kantor at Additude Magazine is a great article for parents on how to better empower their children for college. Being ready for college means being able to manage all aspects of life, not just being ready academically. For example, an assignment pad is not a planner.