🛡️ FORTITUDE
“Fortitude is the marshal of thought, the armor of the will, and the fort of reason.” – Francis Bacon
Fortitude is the quiet steel woven into your spine—the deep resolve to keep going, not because things are easy, but because they matter. For those with ADHD, life can feel like a series of storms: missed cues, emotional surges, misunderstandings, sudden drop-offs in energy. Fortitude is what helps you stand in that storm and whisper, “I’m still here.”
Unlike grit, which pushes through, or resilience, which springs back, fortitude stays. It holds. It breathes deeply while waiting out the wind. And it doesn't pretend the struggle isn’t real. It simply refuses to let that struggle erase who you are or what you’re trying to build.
Living with ADHD often requires fortitude others can’t see. The energy it takes to start again, to navigate yet another forgotten task, to advocate for yourself while doubting your worth—that’s endurance wrapped in courage. That’s fortitude.
This value isn’t about never falling. It’s about what you do after. Do you get up? Do you ask for help? Do you forgive yourself and try again? That’s the muscle. That’s the strength that counts.
🧭 The HOPE Trail Map
- Helps or Harms: Am I tapping into strength—or just forcing myself to push through at any cost?
- Own My Values: I want to be someone who honours what I carry, and still chooses to move forward.
- People and Pursuits: Who strengthens my resolve without demanding my perfection? What goals are worth holding steady for?
- Enact and Evaluate: Today, I’ll notice one place I’ve stayed strong—even if I didn’t feel it at the time.
⚠️ Trail Challenges
- Constant setbacks may erode belief in one’s own strength.
- Emotional intensity can feel like weakness instead of sensitivity.
- ADHDers may confuse pushing through with true inner strength.
🪧 Trail Markers: Small Steps Toward Fortitude
- Write a “strength story” about a time you endured more than you thought you could.
- Say: “This is hard, and I’m doing it anyway.”
- Practice pausing instead of quitting—rest is part of strength.
🔥 Campfire Questions for Reflection
- When have I shown fortitude, even when no one else knew?
- What helps me stay upright when life feels overwhelming?
- How can I honour the strength it takes to simply stay present in the discomfort?
Fortitude is not loud. It’s the still voice inside that says, “You’ve made it through worse—and you’re still here.”
