Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) brains have a way of filling up with negative thoughts. They can build up to a point where it becomes hard to move forward in your day. This is what I call a state of "mental clutter."

Mental clutter is made up of many different kinds of negative thoughts. Think of them like characters.

Regrets Of The Past and Worries About The Future come over uninvited and park themselves on your brain's couch, where they can brood with each other for hours.

Self Doubt rings your brain's doorbell with a new criticism every chance it gets. When you don't answer the door, it leaves messages on your answering machine telling you why you suck.

Self Pity gets in your brain's way. It's an annoying little character that frequently sprawls out on your brain's floor and throws a tantrum.

And, of course, All Those Shoulds hide in the corners of your brain and whisper "You should do this!" and "You should do that!" when you least expect it.

Mental clutter can take over the ADD brain and cause stress, overwhelm, and sometimes even paralysis. Mental clutter creates an atmosphere of chaos and gets in the way of you being calm, productive, happy, and successful.

When mental clutter starts blocking your progress, it's time to take out the trash!

The best way to clean up mental clutter is to attack it head on. This means acknowledging all those characters and the messages they send, and then kicking them all out on their butts.

Talk with Regrets Of The Past and Worries About The Future. Find out what they're on about and ask them a few questions. Does Regrets Of The Past have any wisdom to share that might be helpful in the present? Does Worries About The Future have any plans or solutions to offer?

Tell Self Doubt to F--- Off. The only way to deal with Self Doubt effectively is to put up really strong boundaries. Let it know, in the most direct and vulgar manner possible, that it's not welcome in your brain.

Give Self Pity a Time Out. Empathize with Self Pity and let it express its concerns. Find out why its so upset. Reassure it and make it feel better. Give it a toy to keep it busy.

Sweep Up All Those Shoulds. Collect All Those Shoulds from the corners of your brain and have a look. If you find a few gems, then by all means hang onto them. Throw the rest out the window.

Don't let mental clutter take over. When you find yourself with unwanted guests, take a little time to clean out your brain!

Copyright (c) 2008 Jennifer Koretsky