🏹 DETERMINATION
“It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
Determination is the grit under your boots as you keep climbing, even when the path gets steep. For people with ADHD, this value is often hidden—not because it isn’t there, but because the climb looks different. We may stop and start. We may take detours. But if you look closer, you’ll see something powerful: we keep coming back.
In a world that equates consistency with discipline, it’s easy to feel like you’re failing when progress is uneven. But ADHD determination is fierce. It’s the kind of persistence that gets up after every setback. It’s the courage to restart, even when your inner critic says, “You’ll quit again.” It’s the quiet power of staying in the game—even if you have to play it differently.
This value honors the process, not just the outcome. It says, “Every return counts.” It invites us to stop judging ourselves by neurotypical timelines and start measuring growth by our own commitment to keep trying.
Determination doesn’t mean doing it alone. It means deciding that the goal still matters—even when it's hard, even when it hurts, even when your brain isn’t cooperating. That’s strength. That’s resilience. That’s ADHD determination.
🧭 The HOPE Trail Map
- Helps or Harms: Is this frustration fueling growth—or turning into self-punishment?
- Own My Values: I want to be someone who returns to what matters, again and again.
- People and Pursuits: Who believes in me when I’ve stopped believing in myself? What dream have I returned to more than once?
- Enact and Evaluate: Today, I’ll pick up one thing I dropped—not to finish it, just to keep it alive.
⚠️ Trail Challenges
- Inconsistent energy and focus can make persistence feel out of reach.
- Past failures may trigger shame when trying again.
- Lack of external structure often derails momentum.
🪧 Trail Markers: Small Steps Toward Determination
- Revisit a past effort without judgment—what can still grow from it?
- Set a 10-minute timer to re-engage with something meaningful.
- Create a visual of “returns” instead of completions—a way to track your comebacks.
🔥 Campfire Questions for Reflection
- When have I shown determination, even if no one noticed?
- What’s something I want to keep returning to—regardless of how messy the process is?
- How would I treat myself if I believed that coming back is just as brave as never stopping?
Determination isn’t a straight line—it’s the decision to keep climbing, even if you slide back, rest, or take the long way around.
