Lessons for Kids from the Olympics: Hyper-Focus, Motivation & Passion
The Olympics would be boring to watch were it not for the young athletes’ ability to hyper-focus. Seriously, can you imagine watching hours upon hours of athletes focusing for a little while, and then turning their attention to something else? No way. Download a free tipsheet "Top 10 Ways to Stop Meltdowns in Their Tracks" to stop yelling and tantrums from everyone! Now, I’m not saying that all top athletes have ADHD or anything, but I do believe that the Olympics offer parents of kids with ADHD an important reminder. It is empowering for kids to focus on their strengths. It is magical when they pursue their dreams. One US Olympian’s story demonstrates this perfectly. At the age of 4, Jonathan Horton climbed all the way to the ceiling in the middle of a Department store. Rather than scolding him, his parents gave him gymnastics lessons. Horton ended up as a two-time Olympian who took home a Silver medal in the 2012 Olympic Games on the US Men’s Gymnastics team. And we all know about Michael Phelps, who went public with his ADHD during his first Olympic Games in 2004. He started swimming as a way to help him manage his ADHD. Ultimately, that challenge became his greatest asset. Isn’t that often the way it goes? I was talking with the parent of a newly diagnosed 22 year old, recently. He complained that his son is unmotivated and having a difficult time finishing college. He was clearly frustrated, and I could relate. For one of my kids, school sometimes felt like a kind of slow torture. I don’t doubt for a moment that his son is challenged with the academic environment and responsibilities. But is he unmotivated? It didn’t sound like it to me. This kid took up rowing in college, and routinely made it to practices at 5:30 in the morning – in freezing temperatures, no less. That’s not unmotivated, that’s inspired. It’s just a matter of how we look at it. I’m reminded of the famous quote by Albert Einstein: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Not sure how to do that? Take a clue from where and when they are able to hyper-focus. If you think about it – and this goes for all of us, not just kids – we tend to lose ourselves in our areas of passion or strength, inspiration or motivation. So, as parents, we can Like Jonathan Horton’s parents, we can punish them for climbing, or we can put them in gymnastics class. Parents make a powerful difference in the lives of our kids with ADHD. The perspective we take when we manage our kids’ ADHD influences the way our kids learn to manage it, themselves. Here’s one trap to watch out for: this is not a race. It may take a while. If you haven’t discovered your child’s passion by 7, or by 17, it is not a crisis. Keep trying. If you get desperate for your child to discover a passion, you will turn the possibility of inspiration into just another pressure point – which no one needs, not you or your child! One Olympic athlete interviewed in 2012 – Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas – summed it up quite beautifully. “I’ve got to keep my mind focused until the end.” Download a free tipsheet "Top 10 Ways to Stop Meltdowns in Their Tracks" to stop yelling and tantrums from everyone!
Why We Watch
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Minimize Meltdowns!
Turning Challenges Into Strengths
Recognizing Potential
….or we can enroll them to create video games, themselves.
… or we can encourage them to create their own cartoon strip.The Choice is Up to Us.
Minimize Meltdowns!
