Lessons from someone with Adhd & Dyslexia. If you are like me you want to learn from people who have experienced it – not who read about it in a book.
For me hitting 40 was a moment. Not just a birthday—but a big reflection point. I’ve learned a lot the hard way, especially navigating life with a neurodiverse brain. So today, I’m sharing 10 life lessons from someone with ADHD and dyslexia—the kind of insights I wish I had at 20. Whether you’re younger, older, or right here with me, I hope they hit home.
1. You’re Terrible at Cause and Effect (And That’s Okay)
This is one of the earliest life lessons from someone with ADHD and dyslexia—we often struggle to connect our actions with outcomes unless they’re immediate. I’d repeat patterns and wonder why life felt like groundhog day.
I only really understood cause and effect through deeper learning and tools like the Davis Dyslexia Programme. Game-changer.
2. Your Mind Is Powerful—But Reality Takes Time
As a visual thinker, I had big ideas early on. But turning those ideas into something real? That took patience I didn’t have yet.
One of the biggest ADHD life lessons I’ve learned is that what’s in your head won’t instantly appear in the world. It takes:
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Time
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Communication
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Letting go of perfection
Done is often better than perfect.
3. Everything Is a Story You Tell Yourself
This one’s pure gold. So many of the challenges we face come down to the stories we tell ourselves. One of my favourite reframes: people speeding down the motorway merge lane aren’t rude—they’re rushing to hospital. Maybe.
This is one of the most important life lessons for people with ADHD or dyslexia—you can change your story, and that changes your state.
4. Practice Being Present
With ADHD, your brain constantly jumps to what’s next. But presence is where the magic happens.
Whether it’s football, meditating, or just a mindful walk, I’ve had to train myself to be here now. It’s one of those hard-earned life lessons from someone with ADHD and dyslexia—because we often live in the future, not the now.
5. Your Genes Are a Map—Start Reading It
I wish I’d taken gene testing seriously in my 20s. Learning how your genetics impact your brain, your mood, your metabolism—huge.
Thanks to AI tools like ChatGPT, I’ve finally been able to make sense of my genetic reports, and it’s made a huge impact on my health journey. This lesson is especially powerful for anyone neurodiverse: your biology matters more than you think.
6. You Need Both Routine and Novelty
This balancing act is so real.
As someone with ADHD, I thrive on structure—but I also crave newness. This is one of the life lessons from someone with ADHD and dyslexia I wish more people talked about.
Now, I build my life around stable routines with small doses of novelty. That’s the magic formula.
7. Be Kinder to Yourself (Especially on Bad Days)
We’re our own worst critics.
Even when we look confident, many neurodiverse folks battle internal voices telling us we’re not good enough. One of the best lessons I’ve learned? Self-kindness is a survival tool.
Bad sleep? Low energy? That day doesn’t define you. Tomorrow can be better.
8. Keep What Works. Let Go of the Rest.
With so much advice out there, it’s easy to drown in options. One thing I’ve learned is to trial, test, and then trust your gut.
Try new supplements, new routines, new tools. Keep what clicks, ditch what drains. And don’t feel guilty letting go of something that’s no longer serving you.
9. Set a Vision—And Revisit It Often
Some call it the Law of Attraction. Others call it goal setting. Either way, focusing your energy on what you want works.
Since I started setting clear yearly visions, my life has improved massively—from relationships to health to mindset. If this resonates, reach out. We’re even thinking of starting a little vision-setting group through the podcast.
10. Sort Your Health Out Early
This might be the most physical of all my life lessons from someone with ADHD and dyslexia—but it’s crucial.
I used to eat to numb emotions. I avoided movement. I didn’t know what worked for my body. Now I’m sober, consistent with walking, and eating in a way that supports my neurodiverse brain. And it’s finally clicking into place.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve made it this far—thank you. Whether you’re here for dyslexia, ADHD, or just curious what turning 40 teaches you—I hope this gave you a few nuggets to take forward.
If one of these life lessons helped you, consider sharing the post or leaving a 5-star podcast review on Spotify or Apple. It genuinely helps more than you know. I love helping Adults with Dyslexia it brings me joy to hear the stories.
Be kind to yourself. Stay curious.
Stephen
Truth About Dyslexia Podcast
