Reaching Somewhere Between the Low-Hanging Fruit and the Stars
A mantra created for me by one of my favourite people on this Earth
So, last week I was diagnosed with ADHD at the ripe age of 24.
It’s been a bit of an interesting new aspect of my life to navigate, but at the same time, it’s really just a shiny new label for something I’ve been dealing with for a long time.
For years now, it’s felt like there have been these natural tendencies that I’ve wavered on whether or not I should lean into or challenge within myself.
Is my natural inclination to start twelve different creative projects at the same time a superpower? Or is it perhaps (likely) an attentional issue that might (will definitely) result in me spreading myself too thin...
I’m sure that these are concerns that plague the minds of plenty of creatives out there reading this. It’s a more than natural question to feel like one should answer about their tendencies in their work.
For myself, though, this is a concern that requires constant attention and frequent reminders that I have decided on an answer, and it’s to try my darndest to keep the wildly spinning wheels in my mind in check before one or two come loose and roll off into the horizon, along with my sanity.
In order to prevent this, because it is something I would prefer to prevent, I’ve tried to find some tools that might help me to keep some of these “blindspots,” we’ll call them, in check.
Lately, I’ve realized that, for me, the most effective of these tools often look like mantras. They are one of the most efficient and impactful ways to remind myself that these are not new problems, despite how frequently or infrequently they crop up.
A Quick Flashback
A few weeks before writing this, I was talking to my partner about expressions I enjoy, and how I try to incorporate them into my mantras.
One of my particular favourites, I told her, was the classic “Shoot for the moon, so that even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars,” (which I’m sure I’m paraphrasing slightly, but that’s how I remember it being written on the walls of my high school.)
To this, she responded by saying that expressions like this one feel like they encourage perfectionistic tendencies, another habit I’d been trying to kick.
And really, she’s not wrong. Yes, there’s room for “missing” within the parameters of the mantra, but not so much that one still doesn’t see it as a job that could have been done better.
So, she workshopped the expression a little, and came up with one of the most thoughtful new sayings I feel I’ve heard in years. (Sure, I may be biased, but hey, I’m allowed to be.)
And I’d like to save the reveal of the new expression for just a little longer, but I’m also realizing that it’s the title of this post, so… spoilers, I guess.
And Now Fast Forward a Little…
Going back to the ADHD of it all, I’ve been exploring how ADHD and perfectionism intersect, and it turns out that the two do have quite a large amount of correlation.
This article, written by Sharon Saline, Psy.D., highlights a number of traits that have been found to overlap between those who experience ADHD and those who identify as struggling with perfectionistic tendencies.
Let’s see, we’ve got:
Setting unrealistic or impossible standards of performance
Constant comparison to others
Fear of failure and of disappointing others
The proof is in the neuroatypical pudding, so to speak.
The article goes on to recommend a number of valuable and insightful tips for those who find themselves struggling with either perfectionism or ADHD, such as building awareness, shifting focus, accepting mistakes, and setting realistic goals.
It was that last one that really spoke to me. Specifically, it reminded me of that new expression that my partner came up with those few weeks ago. I scrolled through my notes to see if I had remembered to write it down, and there it was…
“Reach somewhere between the low-hanging fruit and the stars.”
It felt like such a perfect way to push back against perfectionism, while still honouring the part of me that has always loved to dream big.
It’s now one of the affirmations that I come back to most frequently. I love it, and I love that it was written for me by one of the people I care about most.
I’ll leave you here with a few journaling prompts for those who want to do a bit of guided thinking around this topic:
Do you use any mantras affirmations? How has your life changed since you started using them? Have they changed since you started using them?
How do you interpret the expression, “Reach somewhere between the low-hanging fruit and the stars.” Is there a way you feel you can incorporate this in your life?
Have you ever felt yourself spreading yourself too thin creatively? What were the repercussions of that feeling?
Reply of the week:
(I started doing this segment for 100 Things To Do Before The Sun Explodes earlier this week, but I thought we could keep the party going over here as well!)
Okay, sue me, I picked two. I just really loved all of the conversation happening in the post from last week. Y’all have been lovely lately, and I just love getting to give back a little bit. Even if just in the form of a small shoutout. Thanks for hanging out
and !I’d love to do this again next week, so keep the conversation going in the comments below, either under this post or on the most recent post from 100 Things! (If you’d prefer to remain anonymous but would still like to participate, send me an email instead and let me know. I’d be more than happy to consider those replies as well!)
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For now, have a great rest of the week. Talk soon!
I haven’t been formally diagnosed but have learned a lot about ADD from my children. They are all adults now, so we can really talk about it.
I truly appreciate the honesty of your post. The struggle to accomplish any task while trying to land between the “just finish it, for Christ’s sake” and “this is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen” is real.
I never thought of this inspirational phrases as mantras. I think I’ll give it a go! The one I usually repeat is: BETTER DONE THAN PERFECT. It came to me through a dear friend. I was in a very low moment and she was trying to help me out of it.
Oh, and I’m 53. 😊
Is it bad that my immediate thought was: "oh man, gotta comment, lucky streak two weeks in a row" - as if that wasn't a complete antithesis to your post!
Firstly, thanks for sharing something so personal, and I hope this new found knowledge, if maybe uncomfortable (or just 'new', because you know, change, growth, all that icky good stuff) is helpful for you.
In terms of mantras, one I've been TRYING to say to myself is: I measure success by how much fun I'm having.
Because isn't that kind of the goal? We're doing all these creative things because we enjoy it, right? Because we think it will make us happy? I'm trying to focus less on the outcome, and more on the joy I can squeeze out of the process. Emphasis on the word TRY ;)
So happy you found a mantra that works for you, that is tied to your partner and support network too (like another little boost folded in).
On a slightly but not related note- with my writing projects, after you go through creating the character's misbelief/fatal flaw business, Ive been going one step further and make them a nice toxic mantra. It helps boil down the essence of their beliefs, and as you write, keep their actions/decisions consistent - what would someone who has this mantra say/do.
Anyway. Long comment. Thanks for the early morning thoughts!