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S1. Ep5. Values Check: Why Are You Doing the Things You Do?
Have you ever looked at your life and wondered: Why am I even doing this?
For ADHDers, that question isn’t just philosophical — it’s survival. Because our brains don’t run on “shoulds” or delayed rewards. We run on meaning. Without it, we fall into cycles of procrastination, burnout, and chasing goals that don’t feel like ours.
In this episode of Human-ifesto, host Matt Jones explores how values are the missing compass for ADHD brains — and why living by someone else’s script leaves us drained, resentful, and disconnected from ourselves.
✨ What you’ll learn in this episode:
- Why ADHD isn’t a motivation problem — it’s a meaning problem (Dr. William Dodson’s “interest-based nervous system”)
- The difference between inherited values (handed to us by parents, teachers, culture) vs. authentic values (the ones that actually belong to us)
- How values drive your thoughts, emotions, and behaviour — and why misalignment often looks like laziness, avoidance, or burnout
- Real-life stories of values misalignment in careers, relationships, and social circles — and the cost of ignoring your own compass
- Research-backed insights on ADHD, values, and wellbeing (Volkow, Barkley, Hull, Burke, Schwartz, Deci & Ryan)
- A practical roadmap for identifying your true values and using them to design ADHD-friendly routines, set boundaries, and make better decisions
- Why emotional intelligence grows when you learn to align your actions with what really matters
💭 Reflection prompts from this episode:
- Where in your life are you exhausted because of values misalignment?
- Which values are truly yours — and which are inherited from others?
- What’s one area you could realign this week to feel more authentic?
At its heart, this episode is about moving from autopilot to authenticity. It’s about recognising that your procrastination, low motivation, or people-pleasing isn’t a personal flaw — it’s a signal that you’re living out of alignment. And once you reconnect with your values, you unlock resilience, fulfilment, and a life that fits you.
🌍 Find workbooks, coaching, and bonus resources to help you live authentically with ADHD at: www.human-ifesto.co.uk
✨ If this episode resonates, please share it with someone who needs to hear it — and leave a review so more ADHDers (and their loved ones) can discover the podcast.
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By MattHave you ever looked at your life and wondered: Why am I even doing this?
For ADHDers, that question isn’t just philosophical — it’s survival. Because our brains don’t run on “shoulds” or delayed rewards. We run on meaning. Without it, we fall into cycles of procrastination, burnout, and chasing goals that don’t feel like ours.
In this episode of Human-ifesto, host Matt Jones explores how values are the missing compass for ADHD brains — and why living by someone else’s script leaves us drained, resentful, and disconnected from ourselves.
✨ What you’ll learn in this episode:
- Why ADHD isn’t a motivation problem — it’s a meaning problem (Dr. William Dodson’s “interest-based nervous system”)
- The difference between inherited values (handed to us by parents, teachers, culture) vs. authentic values (the ones that actually belong to us)
- How values drive your thoughts, emotions, and behaviour — and why misalignment often looks like laziness, avoidance, or burnout
- Real-life stories of values misalignment in careers, relationships, and social circles — and the cost of ignoring your own compass
- Research-backed insights on ADHD, values, and wellbeing (Volkow, Barkley, Hull, Burke, Schwartz, Deci & Ryan)
- A practical roadmap for identifying your true values and using them to design ADHD-friendly routines, set boundaries, and make better decisions
- Why emotional intelligence grows when you learn to align your actions with what really matters
💭 Reflection prompts from this episode:
- Where in your life are you exhausted because of values misalignment?
- Which values are truly yours — and which are inherited from others?
- What’s one area you could realign this week to feel more authentic?
At its heart, this episode is about moving from autopilot to authenticity. It’s about recognising that your procrastination, low motivation, or people-pleasing isn’t a personal flaw — it’s a signal that you’re living out of alignment. And once you reconnect with your values, you unlock resilience, fulfilment, and a life that fits you.
🌍 Find workbooks, coaching, and bonus resources to help you live authentically with ADHD at: www.human-ifesto.co.uk
✨ If this episode resonates, please share it with someone who needs to hear it — and leave a review so more ADHDers (and their loved ones) can discover the podcast.