Beyond the Cornerstones: Meet the League of Executive Dysfunctions
Tap here to jump down to the TL;DR
Over the past few weeks we've gathered three valuable Cornerstones: Oracles to help us make decisions, Commencements to keep us moving, and Alchemies to help us gain perspective. With a fully stocked toolbox, you've maybe even added some pages to your grimoire by experimenting to find combinations of these strategies that are uniquely yours.
Something I think we don't do often enough is take intentional moments to acknowledge the work we are doing to make ourselves better, or our lives easier. Even when the motivation is ultimately based in our ability to be useful to someone else, it doesn't diminish the hard work (mental, physical, and emotional) that takes.
I struggle with this, and am working on being more open about it. If you do, too, know that I am not only honored that you would consider implementing my work in this endeavor, but I am proud of you for pursuing it.
Let me encourage you not to give up, and to build-in time to look back and acknowledge the work you've put in.
Remember that even an unsuccessful attempt is a data point, and choose to examine them through the lens of curiosity, rather than failure.
As any adventurer knows, having a bespoke toolkit is only half the battle. The real strength lies in knowing your enemies.
Our next series will be just the thing you need to get to know these villains one by one, adding pages to the Monster Manual chapter of your grimoire by cracking open the case-files on the League of Executive Dysfunctions, one baddie at a time.
I know you might be thinking this is all getting a little sillier than you bargained for.
Giving our struggles silly names, really? Doesn't characterizing them like cartoonish villains in a comic book make light of the profound impact they have on our lives, and relationships? Is there a point to this?
Yes, there is. This exercise in personification isn't just for fun. It's a compelling, evidence-based strategy.
Variations of this concept can be found in well-studied and widely used therapeutic practices like Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT) as they help us externalize, and thus create distance, between our struggles and ourselves.
Separating these often complex issues from our identity lets us see a problem as something we are experiencing, rather than who we are as a person.
Crossing the bridge from "I am the problem" to "I'm experiencing a problem" has the powerful and potentially life-changing effect of granting us the agency to observe an issue for what it is, allowing us to tailor and implement solutions objectively without threatening our identity.
The ultimate result of developing this awareness is the power to redirect our strength toward fighting these sinister villains, rather than continue to save them the hassle of beating us into the ground — by doing it ourselves.
With these outcomes in mind, let's officially open the file on The League of Executive Dysfunctions.
The League is more than a random mob; it's a structured organization. Understanding their roles is a key factor in our mission to dismantle their operations. Let's talk about the hierarchy as I currently understand it.
The top tier is a calculated quintet of the biggest bads, these Arch-Villains represent the core challenges we face, which often result in our infamous attentional and intentional deficiencies:
- The Fog (Working Memory Deficit)
- Glimmer (Forgetfulness)
- Juggernaut (Hyperactivity/Restlessness)
- The Firefly (Poor Impulse Control)
- The Imp (Emotional Dysregulation)
These Arch-Villains are supported by a team of field commanders known as The Everyday Horrors:
- The Gatekeeper (Task Paralysis)
- Major Minor (Decision Fatigue)
- The Time Thief (Time Blindness)
- The Vortex (Chaos & Disorganization)
For more delicate operations, the Everyday Horrors employ Specialists, complex characters who act as amplifiers for their main attacks:
- The Inspector (Perfectionism)
- The Locksmith (Perseveration)
Underneath these grandiose operators are a tactical team of nameless foot soldiers known only as The Agents. These insidious players are the forces of Inconsistency, delightfully setting the trip-wires, jinxes, and other sticky traps that break our routines and focus — leaving us vulnerable to attacks from our primary villains.
Over the next few weeks we'll be diving deep into one case-file at a time. We'll catalog details like their primary attacks, strengths, weak points, and who they hang out with most; fleshing out our Monster Manual by profiling each League member with enough time between each one to test out some tools and tips.
As always, I'll be doing my level best to minimize The ADHD Tax™ by primarily recommending free or affordable resources first, as outlined in my own ADHD Grimoire.
For the curious (and the skimmers, I see you), here's the syllabus, coming at you each Tuesday from now through the month of September.
The Everyday Horrors
- The Gatekeeper (Task Paralysis)
- Major Minor (Decision Fatigue)
- The Time Thief (Time Blindness)
- The Vortex (Disorganization)
The Arch-Villains
- The Fog & Glimmer (Working Memory & Forgetfulness)
- Juggernaut (Hyperactivity and Restlessness)
- The Firefly (Impulsivity)
- The Imp (Emotional Dysregulation)
The Specialists
- The Locksmith (Perseveration)
- The Inspector (Perfectionism)
I'm looking forward to sifting through the first file next Tuesday, and I hope you'll join me as we dig into the notorious ringleader of the Everyday Horrors, The Gatekeeper.
✂️ TL;DR
The "Why": Today I'm talking about why personifying our struggles is a powerful, evidence-based therapeutic technique called externalization. It helps separate you from your problems, which reduces shame and gives you back your agency.
The "Who": I introduce the full hierarchy of The League of Executive Dysfunctions, from the "Arch-Villains" at the top, to the "Everyday Horrors" (like The Gatekeeper), the "Specialists" (like The Inspector), and the nameless Agents of Inconsistency.
The "What's Next": This provides the complete 10-week plan for the new series, The League of Executive Dysfunctions, which will profile one villain each week, starting with The Gatekeeper.