🌟 SIGNIFICANCE
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall
Significance is the deep, soul-level sense that your presence matters. That who you are—flaws, fire, fog and all—changes the world simply by being in it. For ADHDers, who may struggle with consistency, self-worth, or feeling “behind,” the longing for significance often runs deep.
Too often, we’re taught to measure value by productivity, performance, or perfection. But significance isn’t earned. It’s remembered. It’s the truth that your story, your voice, your kindness, your ideas—all of it carries weight. Even when the inbox is full, the brain is foggy, or the to-do list is untouched.
Living this value means stepping into impact, not image. It’s recognising that the way you show up—for a friend, for a cause, for your own healing—ripples. You may not always see it, but it matters. And when you begin to believe that, you begin to live with greater agency, clarity, and care.
Significance invites ADHDers to stop hiding in the shadow of “not enough,” and start honouring the quiet influence of their lived truth. Not by shouting louder—but by standing rooted in what’s real and meaningful.
🧭 The HOPE Trail Map
- Helps or Harms: Am I acting from a place of self-worth—or trying to prove I deserve to be here?
- Own My Values: I want to be someone who knows my life makes a difference—even when no one is clapping.
- People and Pursuits: Who helps me feel seen and meaningful just as I am? What pursuits remind me that I leave a mark?
- Enact and Evaluate: Today, I’ll do one thing that honours the belief: my presence here matters.
⚠️ Trail Challenges
- Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) may distort how others see you—or how you see yourself.
- Inconsistent follow-through may lead to feeling replaceable or invisible.
- Comparing yourself to neurotypical standards may dull your sense of worth.
🪧 Trail Markers: Small Steps Toward Significance
- Reflect on a time someone thanked you for being you—not just doing something.
- Leave a kind message, story, or creation behind today—just because.
- Say to yourself: “I matter—not because of what I do, but because of who I am.”
🔥 Campfire Questions for Reflection
- Where have I made a quiet difference I didn’t realise at the time?
- What gives my life meaning—even if no one else sees it?
- How might I live if I trusted that my significance was already true?
You don’t have to prove you’re significant. You already are. Now go live like it’s real—because it is.
