When I was a kid at school, some of my favourite stories were the Aesop’s fables, like the Tortoise & the Hare, remember those?
Looking back now, I think my ADHD brain loved analogies, because they helped me connect complex concepts to something more relateable, allowing me to connect them to my own life.
Like many other Life Coaches I use analogies a LOT with my clients, it helps explain things in ways that are easy to remember and more meaningful.
One of my favourite’s is my Grasshopper & Inchworm analogy.
It isn’t wholly original, I borrowed it from a client who was also a teacher, who explained how she used it with Dyslexic students, as a way to explain the differences between their way of learning ( the Grasshopper) compared to a Neuro-typical person’s way. ( the Inchworms) I’ve been using this to help explain ADHD differences ever since.
To elaborate; The Inchworms are nature’s steady, organized creatures of habit. They inch towards a goal, slowly, steadily, and surely, not veering from their path, neither distracted or bored, and they get where they’re going in a linear and measured way. For our non- linear ADHD minds, the inch worm’s way simultaneously impresses and repels us! We’d love to be do single minded, but the thought going through life this way also would be a kind of torture…
The Grasshopper however is quite the opposite, a bouncy, reactive creature who doesn’t take a straight path towards a destination, who jumps all over the place, perhaps in response to environmental or internal distractions or maybe the obstacles in his path, he also sits for long periods, seemingly doing nothing, staring, relaxing, soaking up the sun ( Just as we do when we ADHD hyperfocus) And then when they do finally move, they make a Ginormous leap.
Those of us who work with people who have ADHD know that a strength based approach to treatment is way more successful for than the ‘lets see what’s broke, and try to fix it approach’.
It’s so much more healing when people with ADHD not only find ways to improve how they do things, but do so in a way that honours and respects their own unique way of being, as this approach unleashes their innate drive, creativity and wisdom.
As I like to say to my clients & students: “You are all Beautiful, Bouncing Grasshoppers, so please don’t try to be an Inch-worm!” If you do, you’d be a poor and unhappy one, and the world would be short of a Beautiful, Bouncing Grasshopper!
Another thing is, people with ADHD beat themselves up a lot! Often sadly, it’s because they’re frustrated that they don’t have the skill set of the Inchworms.
I totally relate to that kind of thinking. I’ve been there myself, way too many times! But it is kind of tough to avoid comparing ourselves negatively, especially when the world as we know it is geared for 90% Inchworms and only 10% Grasshoppers. Meaning so much of our ‘learning and working conditions’ are geared towards the Inchworm’s style, leaving us Grasshoppers wondering where we’re going wrong.
What I’m advocating for with this analogy, is that all of you Beautiful, Bouncing Grasshoppers, whenever you’re approaching your work, learning or other tasks in your life, that you truly own your inherent ‘Grasshopper-iness!’
So please give yourself permission to:
Stand up, Lay down, Bounce around, Stare for long periods, Paint your ideas on a canvas or a white board, or the floor, Blast your music, Brainstorm, Talk it out , Shout it out, and then of course wait until the very last minute before a deadline to actually do the work. Lol! Because when you can fully embrace & accept your unique way of being & stop wasting all that valuable time & energy trying to be that which you are not & never will be, you’re Creativity and Brilliance can skyrocket.
Many of us already use these unique approaches to our tasks or work, because we literally can’t do it any other way anyhow. But the critical difference is instead of doing it with an attitude of self-love & acceptance or even appreciation for our unique approach, we’re often doing it with stress and even self- judgment! That’s because we’re still stuck believing we’re using the ‘wrong’ approach.
The power of the Analogy
For some inexplicable reason when we use an analogy like this, people can really get behind the idea of self acceptance & can clearly see how foolish it would be for a Grasshopper to try to be like an Inchworm. But when we don’t, we can’t seem to always apply the same understanding or acceptance when looking at our own differences.
So thats why I love this way of explaining things, because it becomes a powerful way to illustrate & remind ourselves & each other that in fact, we’re all created exactly the way God intended…. Or as my son likes to say: “That’s just how our Species is Mum!”
And guess what? Even for Inchworms, it’s essential to be free just to be.
Time management expert Julie Morgenstern talks about how she helps people create a more productive & less stressful work life. She often begins, not as you’d expect by working on their weekly scheduling. But firstly by ensuring they increase the quality of their down time, as this ensures they’re relaxed & refreshed, motivated, & energized when they do begin their work
As ADHD-ers with our bouncing & day dreamy natures, we’re already innately wired for this wise approach! I‘ve also noticed that we can have whole seasons like this too! Mine’s usually Summer because I’m a Mum to school children, so it’s a natural period of withdrawal from the regular Inchworm like routine & so this becomes my time to Bounce and Stare. In the past I would have spent much wasted time and energy beating myself to a bruised & bloody pulp during these phases for not being more productive & Inchworm like!
Today I have more self acceptance & faith in my natural process, I understand more deeply that when I do Leap it’ll be by a football field’s length! That knowledge allows me to enjoy this down time, and really be present for my Bouncing & Staring!
Having said all that, there’s a real need to be selective about the things we choose to do in our valuable Bouncing /Staring time.
There’s a difference between being aware you’re in your Staring or Bouncing time/season & permitting it, versus avoiding, isolating or distracted escaping into the Internet, TV etc etc.
Think of the Grasshopper, even when he’s staring and seemingly still, he’s actually doing healthy, nurturing things that refuel him in a positive way: Sunning himself, eating, being fully present, alert, yet relaxed . Here are some of the ways I have learned to healthily refuel.
Examples of my own Optimal Grasshopper rituals:
Journalling, a daily spiritual practice, reading a great book (on my porch with a cup of green tea & Mojo my dog) Exercise, Spending time around/in the pool, Time spent with family and friends, Picnics & day trips, Gardening, Painting, Writing, Crochet, Riding my bike, Camping, Canoeing etc.
These simple but nurturing acts top me up and have me raring to go for when that next Big Leap is needed
Just like Aesop’s fable, this analogy for ADHD has a ‘moral’ which is :
People with ADHD Need to Love & Accept themself as they are, embrace your unique way of being & trust it…Don’t try to turn yourself into a poor man’s version of somebody else, and work with your traits instead of against them.
I would love to hear your Bouncy thoughts on this Mini Fable & just how you relate to it? Like what you do in your own down time that restores & energizes you for the next Big Leap? Or maybe you’ve noticed that you too have Staring or Bouncing seasons?
Please share your thoughts or stories here with us.