Dopamine is the fuel that converts our intentions into action. It regulates the brain’s pleasure-seeking behaviors, and it motivates us to take action in anticipation of a future reward. Good intentions are clear and deliberate; identifying and defining them helps enormously in the lifelong quest to achieve our goals.
But setting clear, deliberate intentions can be problematic for people with ADHD, who are known to have a deficient dopamine reward system. They know what they need to do but struggle to get there – to see past the daunting hard work to the achievement itself. It’s why ADHD might be better described as an intention deficit disorder, says sports psychiatrist Dawn Brown, M.D.
The late basketball star Kobe Bryant also struggled to set intentions. It’s what led to his legendary commitment to the game. “Mamba mentality,” as he famously called it, was all about completing smaller tasks in order to accomplish bigger goals. Bryant didn’t focus on achieving the triple double — instead, he looked at the process of what was needed to get there.
In the video above, Brown explains how to harness Bryant’s “Mamba mentality” for your ADHD brain.
For more sports-psychiatry insights into ADHD motivation, watch Dr. Brown’s ADDitude webinar, “How to Leverage Sports Psychology to Benefit ADHD Brains.” Dawn Brown, M.D., is a sports psychiatrist and founder of the ADHD Wellness Center.
How to Set Intentions with ADHD: Next Steps
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FAQs
The late Kobe Bryant's famous Mamba Mentality mindset is all about process. We can take some inspiration from Kobe and come up with a system — a playbook — that supports our desire to stay in the game. Plan and prepare: We're often unrealistic about what our ADHD brains can accomplish in 24 hours.
What are the 5 pillars of the Mamba Mentality? ›
Whether playing a sport or working a job, you should always strive to do and be the best. Kobe had five pillars to channeling your inner Mamba mentality – fearlessness, relentlessness, passion, obsessiveness, and resilience.
How to stimulate your brain with ADHD? ›
Here's what to do when you're understimulated and have ADHD:
- Listen to music or a podcast, or turn the TV on in the background while you work.
- Find undisruptive ways to fidget (e.g., using a fidget toy, fiddling with stretchy bands, doodling while listening to a lecture, etc.).
Pursuing interests that bring joy and satisfaction, whether it's playing music, painting, gardening, or participating in sports, can activate the brain's reward pathways and elevate dopamine levels naturally.
How to use mamba mentality? ›
Maintain a commitment to hard work and excellence.
Kobe had a laser-like focus on his commitment to excellence. His work ethic was unmatched by his peers and he refused to be complacent in his career. “Without studying, preparation, and practice, you're leaving the outcome to fate. I don't do fate,” said Kobe.
What is the Mamba mentality mindset? ›
Kobe Bryant's legacy extends far beyond the court. His Mamba Mentality – characterized by unwavering dedication, a competitive fire and a hunger for continuous learning – offers a powerful roadmap for success in any field. Are you ready to unleash your inner Mamba?
What are the 5 things that motivate ADHD brain? ›
What Is INCUP with ADHD? INCUP is an acronym that stands for interest, novelty, challenge, urgency, and passion. The term was first proposed by psychologist William Dodson, who suggested that these five things are the top motivating factors for someone with ADHD.
What triggers ADHD in the brain? ›
ADHD is associated with abnormally low levels of the neurotransmitters transmitting between the prefrontal cortical area and the basal ganglia i.e., dopamine and noradrenaline. Dopamine is closely associated with reward centers in the brain, and also interacts with other potent neurotransmitters to regulate mood.
What foods are high in dopamine for ADHD? ›
People with ADD/ADHD tend to have low levels of dopamine, so it's a good idea to eat foods that tend to increase dopamine such as beef, poultry, fish, eggs, seeds (pumpkin and sesame), nuts (almonds and walnuts), cheese, protein powders, and green tea.
Does ADHD get worse with age? ›
While each person's experience is different, ADHD usually do not get worse with age. However, how your ADHD traits present and affect your life can change depending on factors like stress, your environment, and the type of supports that are available to you.
People with ADHD have at least one defective gene, the DRD2 gene that makes it difficult for neurons to respond to dopamine, the neurotransmitter that is involved in feelings of pleasure and the regulation of attention.
Are ADHD brains faster? ›
Executive functions have other roles which affect how someone thinks. In people with ADHD, these executive dysfunctions impact thinking in numerous ways. People with ADHD don't really think faster than people without it, but it can sometimes seem like they do. People with ADHD do think differently though, in a sense.
What is the mindset of a person with ADHD? ›
Individuals with ADHD don't know where and how to start, since they can't find the beginning. They jump into the middle of a task and work in all directions at once. Organization becomes an unsustainable task because organizational systems work on linearity, importance, and time.
What makes people with ADHD calm? ›
Calming an ADHD mind involves activities that reduce overstimulation and help focus attention. Practices such as mindfulness and meditation have been shown to be effective, as they teach the mind to focus on the present moment, reducing the tendency for thoughts to wander.
What do people with ADHD fear? ›
The Fear of Failure Is Real — and Profound. “Researchers have ignored the emotional component of ADHD because it can't be measured. Yet emotional disruptions are the most impairing aspects of the condition at any age.” Powerful insights into rejection-sensitive dysphoria.
What are the 4 things that motivate ADHD? ›
What Is INCUP with ADHD? INCUP is an acronym that stands for interest, novelty, challenge, urgency, and passion. The term was first proposed by psychologist William Dodson, who suggested that these five things are the top motivating factors for someone with ADHD.
