How ADHD Brains Find Inspiration (Hint: Not on the First Try)
We love the idea of lightning-bolt inspiration.
One flash of brilliance, and suddenly the book gets written, the business gets launched, or the painting finally takes form. But for those of us with ADHD, chasing inspiration can feel like chasing a mirage—just out of reach, always moving, always taunting.
James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, said it best:
“Inspiration comes on the twenty-fifth attempt, not the first… Inspiration reveals itself after you get the average ideas out of the way, not before you take the first step.”
That hits especially hard when you live in an ADHD brain that thrives on novelty and dopamine but wilts under repetition and delayed gratification.
But here’s the truth: how ADHD brains find inspiration isn’t through waiting. It’s through doing. Repeatedly. Imperfectly. Even when your brain screams, “This isn’t working.”
Start Ugly. Start Often.
ADHD makes starting hard enough as it is. Combine that with the myth that your first idea should be your best, and you’ve got a perfect cocktail for paralysis.
We don’t lack creativity—we just forget that brilliance often hides behind twenty-four meh drafts. So if you’ve ever wondered how ADHD brains find inspiration, it starts with permission. Permission to make something half-baked. Permission to make twenty-four forgettable things.
Because #25? That might be the one that changes everything.
The ADHD Advantage: Rapid Fire Iteration
We’re quick thinkers. Fast starters. Sprinters in a marathon world. And while that can backfire when we lack follow-through, it also means we can produce a LOT of ideas in a short burst.
That’s not a bug. That’s a feature.
How ADHD brains find inspiration is through motion. Through the momentum of trying. Through the act of doing—even if you’re unsure where it’s going.
You’re Not Failing. You’re Filtering.
Every “bad” attempt isn’t wasted effort. It’s filtration. It’s shaking the dirt off to find the gold underneath. For ADHD minds, success isn’t about having fewer ideas—it’s about moving through them fast enough to strike the good ones.
So yeah, your first version might suck.
But your twenty-fifth?
That might just change your life.
Final Thought
Stop waiting for the perfect idea to strike before you start. Let your ADHD work for you—not against you—by embracing the messy, chaotic, trial-heavy path to brilliance. Because how ADHD brains find inspiration isn’t about being struck by lightning. It’s about setting enough sparks until one catches fire.
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Grab my book Beyond the Wall — a short, ADHD-friendly read that helps you push through the messy middle and actually finish what matters.
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