Head's up, there could be affiliate links ahead!
How important is mindset for reaching big goals or making significant life changes?
Recently, I was on a call with Alex Hormozi when he started roasting a business focused on mindset and manifestation. His position? Mindset is complete BS.
His argument: he wasted years on self-help without results. Only when he dropped the “mental gymnastics” and focused solely on behavior change did he become successful.
It made me think. Maybe he’s right?
After reflection, I’ve developed my own position—one that doesn’t fully align with Hormozi, but also isn’t in the “woo-woo” manifestation camp.
The Science Behind Mindset
Here’s what science supports: our thoughts drive our feelings, and our feelings drive our behaviors.
When we think about something:
- It triggers neurotransmitters in our brain
- It creates hormonal reactions in our body
- These physical responses directly impact our ability to take action
Fear vs. Action: A Tale of Two Mindsets
Imagine two people starting a business:
Person #1: Excited but terrified of putting themselves out there.
Person #2: Excited and comfortable with potential failure.
For Person #1, thoughts about taking action trigger the amygdala (fear center), which:
- Hijacks executive function
- Creates physical resistance to action
Person #2’s mindset allows them to:
- Think more openly and creatively
- Move from thought to action without internal resistance
Where Mindset Work Fails
Here’s where I agree with Alex: we can get stuck in endless mental gymnastics.
When we try forcing positive thoughts over deeply-held fear-based beliefs, we create a paralysis loop—stuck in mindset work without taking action.
Hidden Beliefs Control Our Actions
Researchers studied people who lost weight but later regained it all. One woman had been sexually assaulted as a child and her weight had become protective. When she lost weight and received attention, it triggered her fear response, pushing her back to overeating.
Your mindset is driven by your life experiences and what your brain has determined is “safe” or “dangerous.”
The ADHD Connection: Two Critical Variables
For those with ADHD, two variables make an enormous difference:
- The right mindset
- The right level of interest & challenge (to satisfy our interest-driven nervous systems)
When we find something that genuinely interests us long-term, our ADHD brains become incredibly focused and productive. And when we have the right mindset about what we’re doing (ie, it matters to us and we have the capacity to do it), thing generally turn out well. Or at least they are far more likely to be completed.
This is why I’ve been able to be prolific in my business. I don’t have fear responses around my work, AND I’ve found something that engages my interest-driven nervous system.
The Real Solution For ADHD Brains: Mindset + Action
The truth isn’t in either extreme position. It’s not just “think positive” OR “mindset is BS, just take action.”
The real path forward:
- Clarify what you want
- Identify limiting beliefs or fears blocking you
- Work through those fears (with support if needed)
- Choose work that appeals to your interest-based nervous system
When you get these elements right, as ADHDers, we can often exceed what neurotypical people accomplish—moving faster and more creatively thanks to hyperfocus.
What To Do About Your Mindset Today
If your mindset is holding you back:
- Get curious about your fears. What are you really afraid might happen?
- Connect with your interests. What aspects genuinely excite you?
- Create structures that support your brain.
- Consider getting support for perspective on blind spots.
Mindset DOES matter, but not in the way most people think. It’s about understanding how your brain and body respond to what you think and feel and creating conditions where action becomes not only possible, but likely.
Leave a Comment