Bipolar? Just Be Yourself

In my opinion, too many people with bipolar disorder believe what other people say about them. Well, let me tell you a saying I heard about that. "What other people think about you is none of your business." Pretty powerful, huh? Think about it.

It's better not to know what other people think or say about you, especially to your face, because then there's a chance you might believe them, and then... well, then it might change the way you feel about yourself.

Your opinion of yourself is the only opinion that matters. And that opinion should be high! You are special, don't you know that? Everyone with bipolar disorder is special.

We have gifts, for one thing. Most of us are more intelligent, talented and creative than other people are. If you don't believe me, check out famous people with bipolar disorder online.

You'll be amazed at the people who have the disorder just like you - people like Beethoven, Van Gogh, Edgar Allen Poe, Jim Carey, Robin Williams, Robert Downey Jr., Patty Duke, Carrie Fisher, and many, many others.

Look around at your own circle, the people you know who have bipolar disorder. Aren't they more creative, intelligent, and talented than others? You almost have to be, to live with this disorder, don't you?

Think about the way you approach things - you think outside the box. You come up with more creative solutions, not just the usual ones. Not just in a manic episode, but even in normal times, you have creative ideas. We are poets, musicians, actors, writers, artists... shall I go on? I repeat, we are special!

You should have high self-esteem! Just think of all the things you can do (some at the same time - we're geat at multi-tasking)! And do well, I might add. Some of us even struggle with perfection, we want things to be done so well. But that's because we care about things so much.

And we have a great capacity to love people. To show affection in creative ways. Just ask our supporters, family, and friends.

Unfortunately, that great capacity to feel so deeply, so strongly, can also be our downfall when we go into bipolar depressive episodes. But that's just one of the things with which we must struggle - it's just the nature of the beast.

But when we are happy, we are oh so happy! We can feel so good about everything - including ourselves. So much so that it doesn't matter what other people think about us - we can just shrug tat off, it doesn't matter.

If you don't like yourself now, give it time. It will come as part of recovery. You will get to know yourself, learn the good parts of yourself, and get to like yourself in time, as you grow, as you stabilize.

If your self-esteem happens to be low right now,just remember that it won't stay there forever - it will get better, as you feel better. Just be yourself, and remember that your opinion is the only opinion that counts. Don't try to be who you think others want you to be. Just be yourself. That's good enough.

Wishing you peace and stability,

Don't forget to check out my bipolar book at: www.brokenroseministries.com

Remember God loves you and so do I,
Michele