Clarity Fuels Action – Because Motivation Starts with Meaning
For many ADHDers, clarity isn’t just a nice to have, it’s essential.
Without it, we can feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disoriented, like we’re trying to navigate a foggy path with no sense of direction. We may start questioning ourselves, procrastinating, or spinning in circles trying to just get started
But give us the why, the bigger picture, the context, and suddenly something clicks. We come alive.
Clarity Calms the Noise
In an uncertain or unclear situation, our brains often interpret that lack of information as a threat. For those of us with ADHD or other forms of neurodivergence, that uncertainty can become a breeding ground for overthinking, emotional dysregulation, and burnout.
We need a sense of orientation. Not always in the form of step by step instructions, but in the form of meaning.
What am I doing this for?
Where is it leading?
How does this connect to what matters to me?
Interest is the Engine, Not the Reward
It’s often misunderstood that ADHDers can’t just do it when it comes to tasks that are important . But it’s not a lack of care. It’s a different activation system.
Our brains are wired for interest-based motivation. This means we need a hook, something emotionally resonant, intellectually engaging, novel, meaningful, or all of the above.
And this is why clarity matters so much, when we understand the bigger picture, we’re more likely to feel connected to it. We’re more likely to care, and that care helps fuel our action.
How to Recognise When You’re Missing the Why
If you’re struggling to start or follow through on something, it’s worth asking:
Is this a clarity issue, not a motivation problem?
Here are some signs you might be lacking clarity:
Feeling overwhelmed or foggy when you try to begin
Procrastination that doesn’t shift, even after rest or breaks
A nagging sense of this doesn’t make sense or what’s the point?
Task paralysis, not because it’s hard, but because it feels meaningless
Emotionally shutting down or zoning out in meetings or plans
If this sounds familiar, pause and ask yourself:
What’s the purpose behind this?
What’s the outcome I care about here?
How does this connect to something bigger?
Is there any part of this that could feel interesting or satisfying?
Finding Your Bigger Picture
Everyone’s bigger picture will look different. For some, it might be impact, knowing their work helps others. For others, it might be challenge, autonomy, or connection.
Tuning into what matters to you is often the key to turning a foggy task into something energising.
It’s not about forcing interest where it doesn’t exist, but about gently asking
Where’s the spark? Where’s the meaning for me in this?
Permission to Need Clarity
If you’ve been told you just need to try harder or just get on with it, needing clarity might feel like a weakness. But it’s not. It’s how you’re wired and that’s valid.
The more we understand this, the more we can design our days, work, and relationships in ways that honour it.
Because when we do have clarity, when we understand the context, the why, the point,
we fly.