🔍 CURIOSITY
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein
Curiosity is the internal compass that doesn't point north—it points to what if? In the ADHD terrain, curiosity is both instinct and engine. It’s what leads us down rabbit holes, lights up our focus, and keeps us awake at night with questions no one else is asking.
For many with ADHD, curiosity is one of our deepest strengths—and also one of the most misunderstood. We’re curious about everything, which can look like distractibility. We follow ideas that seem disconnected, but that often lead to unexpected connections. We dive deep, sometimes too deep, but we care. Curiosity keeps us engaged when motivation runs dry.
This value also softens the terrain. When we approach our struggles with curiosity rather than shame, everything changes. Instead of, “Why can’t I focus?” we ask, “What helps me focus?” Instead of “What’s wrong with me?”, we ask “What’s happening here?”
Curiosity invites exploration over explanation, observation over judgment. It opens doors we didn’t know existed—inside ourselves and in the world. And in ADHD life, where so much feels like a puzzle, curiosity becomes a way to move forward without having all the answers first.
🧭 The HOPE Trail Map
- Helps or Harms: Is this question opening up new paths—or spiralling into overthinking?
- Own My Values: I want to be someone who stays curious about my inner world, not critical of it.
- People and Pursuits: Who encourages my questions? What interests keep pulling me back, no matter how long it’s been?
- Enact and Evaluate: Today, I’ll follow one thread of curiosity—even if it doesn’t “lead anywhere.”
⚠️ Trail Challenges
- Shame can shut down curiosity and replace it with harsh self-judgment.
- Pressure to stay on-task can make exploration feel “wrong” or wasteful.
- Others may label curiosity as distraction instead of depth.
🪧 Trail Markers: Small Steps Toward Curiosity
- Ask yourself: “What am I noticing?” instead of “What am I doing wrong?”
- Read or watch something just because it intrigues you.
- Reflect on an ADHD trait you struggle with—and get curious about what’s behind it.
🔥 Campfire Questions for Reflection
- What am I curious about that I haven’t given myself permission to explore?
- When do I feel most alive with wonder—and what makes that possible?
- How could I meet my next mistake with curiosity instead of critique?
Curiosity isn’t a detour from the trail—it’s the trail that hasn’t been walked yet. And it just might lead somewhere only you can go.
