This Is What Alignment Feels Like with Clare Adams

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here.


January 19, 2026


What if the most ADHD-friendly “plan” is simply following what lights you up?

In this episode, we’re talking with Clare Adams, a British-Canadian artist, poet, community builder, and humanity advocate who was diagnosed with ADHD at 50, after both of her kids were identified. Clare’s story is full of movement and reinvention: 24 moves, a career that spans law, healthcare, finance, airline operations, marketing, and fundraising, plus a strong pull toward creativity, connection, and service. She also shares how her diagnosis first brought grief and a fix-it mindset, and what helped her come back to self-trust.

We get into what changes when you stop treating ADHD like a trade-off and start seeing the “good and bad” inside the same trait, why supportive environments matter more than willpower, and why connection isn’t optional for long-term wellbeing. Clare also shares the real-world workarounds she relies on (including “racing the kettle”), the phrase that stops her perfection spiral, and the meaning behind “pretirement,” her choice to build a values-led life now instead of waiting for later. If you’ve ever felt pulled between who you are and who the world wants you to be, this episode will feel like a deep exhale.



















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Quotes:

“Connection matters because we’re not meant to do this alone.”
- Clare Adams

“I don’t see ADHD as a trade-off anymore. Every trait has a positive side and a challenging side.”
- Clare Adams

“That high energy that gets me into trouble is the same energy that allows me to show up fully when it matters.”
-- Clare Adams

"I don’t define success by titles or status. I define it by whether my work aligns with my values."
-- Clare Adams

"I want to lift others. Whether someone is a CEO or homeless, I want them to feel seen."
- Clare Adams

"The fact that you exist at all is incredible. That alone is enough."
- Clare Adams

"It’s better’ feels kinder than perfection, and it keeps me moving forward."
- Clare Adams




[00:00 - 25:00] Late Diagnosis and a Lifetime of Adaptation
  • Tracy introduces Clare’s multi-hyphenate background, and Clare shares the reality behind moving 24 times, including the Channel Islands housing rules.
  • Clare explains how her daughter’s assessment opened the door to ADHD awareness, then her son requested an evaluation and Clare recognized herself in the questions.
  • She describes her initial reaction as grief and “fix-it” urgency, followed by a painful season that amplified negative self-talk.

[25:00 -50:00] Career Curiosity, Values, and Identity Work
  • Clare shares how curiosity and fast learning shaped her non-linear career across healthcare, finance, airline operations, fundraising, and marketing, guided by what felt meaningful.
  • She reflects on supportive parenting and why environment and connection can change everything for ADHD women.
  • Clare explains how A-OK helped her shift from outside-in labels to inside-out identity, seeing ADHD traits as multidimensional rather than “strengths vs flaws.”

[50:00 - 01:15:28] Compassion Art Creations and Building a Joy-First Life
  • Clare describes creating Compassion Art Creations to bring more humanity into everyday life through jewelry, journals, cards, workshops, and nonprofit partnerships.
  • She shares her “pretirement” approach: choosing consulting and creative work that aligns with values, variety, and joy instead of returning to traditional full-time employment.
  • The episode closes with practical ADHD workarounds (lists, alarms, “race the kettle,” micro-steps) and Clare’s mantra: “It’s better than it was.”







Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next?

ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem.

That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here
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EPISODE #368

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Hi, I'm Tracy

I teach Smart Ass ADHD women how to use their brilliant brains to build the life they want by embracing their too-muchness and focusing on their strengths.