💬 SINCERITY
“Sincerity makes the very least person to be of more value than the most talented hypocrite.” – Charles Spurgeon
Sincerity is truth with warmth. It’s the decision to show up real, even if you’re uncertain, imperfect, or afraid. In the ADHD terrain—where masking is common, where we’ve been told to “tone it down” or “try harder”—sincerity is a deeply courageous act.
For ADHDers, sincerity can be both natural and vulnerable. We often feel things intensely and speak before editing. That unfiltered honesty can be a superpower when met with acceptance—and a source of shame when it’s punished. But living sincerely means choosing integrity over impression, truth over performance.
This value invites you to speak your mind and your heart without overexplaining or pretending. It’s not about being blunt or raw—it’s about being real with care. Sincerity builds trust. It dissolves shame. It lets others feel safe around your authenticity and invites them to do the same.
Sincerity also includes how we treat ourselves. Are we honest about what we feel? What we need? What we believe? ADHDers often learn to perform for approval. Sincerity is the practice of saying, “This is who I am—still growing, still trying, and still worthy.”
🧭 The HOPE Trail Map
- Helps or Harms: Am I being sincere—or slipping into scripts to avoid discomfort?
- Own My Values: I want to be someone who honours truth, with compassion—for myself and others.
- People and Pursuits: Who lets me speak freely and feel safe doing so? What spaces allow for honesty over polish?
- Enact and Evaluate: Today, I’ll speak or write something sincere, without over-editing or apology.
⚠️ Trail Challenges
- Fear of rejection may lead to masking or over-pleasing.
- Past criticism may make sincerity feel unsafe or “too much.”
- RSD (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria) may distort feedback into perceived personal failure.
🪧 Trail Markers: Small Steps Toward Sincerity
- Share how you’re really doing with one trusted person today.
- Write a note to yourself as you are—not as you “should be.”
- Replace people-pleasing with one honest, kind boundary.
🔥 Campfire Questions for Reflection
- What do I wish I could say more often—and what stops me?
- How does it feel in my body when I’m being sincere?
- What might shift in my ADHD journey if I showed up more truthfully, not just usefully?
Sincerity is not about being perfect—it’s about being present. It’s showing up with your truth, your flaws, and your heart still open.
