To "fail forward" means every failure is an opportunity for growth. Michael Jordan says, "I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

Do you truly understand how your brain works and why? Why is it zipping around happily sometimes, but dragging and sucking you into the depths of negativity at others? Maybe you've learned a few skills to control your thoughts and your actions, but can you stick with them to create habits? Yes, you can! It's not easy, but I know you can. 

Since Mind Coach NOLA is still on Thanksgiving break, I wanted to do a little throw-back to my first blog post ever, "Why I Do It," written a little over a year ago.

Thanksgiving break. Since I’m sure you’ve got the gratitude thing down, so let's focus on the “break.” This is a holiday, a vacation, a break from daily work. We plan our work schedules, and Thanksgiving break also ought to have a place in the planner. For me, it’s a time to spend with my family relaxing.

ADDitude Magazine has great suggestions for parents of all teens, not just those with ADHD. Check out "Hormones, High School, and ADHD: A Parent's Guide," by Peter Jaksa, for a number of helpful techniques. But don't just read articles; Mind Coach NOLA has a whole toolbox of helpful tips and techniques to put into practice, and works with parents one-on-one to develop a deeper understanding of how your teen's brain works! Mind Coach NOLA also works with teens, to help them understand their own brains and to develop stronger executive function skills, guiding them toward becoming successful young adults.

Do you ever watch videos from The School of Life? The School of Life is an educational organization devoted to teaching emotional intelligence. It was founded by British philosopher Alain de Botton, author of a number of books on philosophy, culture, and psychology. 

This past weekend, Mind Coach NOLA was at the 2017 Annual International Conference on ADHD in Atlanta. I can't wait to share with you all the new tips and techniques I learned for making the most of an ADHD diagnosis! I heard amazing speakers, met with fellow ADHD/life coaches, and attended panels on all the latest ADHD- and brain-related research. Get ready for more exciting blog posts from Mind Coach NOLA, and get in touch with me if you'd like to talk in person about how an ADHD or life coach can change your world!

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?"