Hi,

Today I want to talk to you about a principle I’ve heard of called: ACT AS IF. Yogi Berra once said: “You can observe a lot just by watching.” When we watch other people, we learn how to “act as if.” We watch a patient person, and we learn how to be patient. We don’t have to spend $150 on a course we buy through the mail, or attend a college course, or get a degree in patience, or pay $1,000 to a “patience coach” to teach us how to be patient – We just “act as if” we are patient, until we become a patient person. Over time, we will become more patient.

If we watch how good listeners listen, we can “act as if” we know how to listen. Then, one day, we will realize that we really do know how to be a good listener! Of course, we can’t just watch a doctor and “act as if” we’re a doctor and one day put a shingle on our door and begin practicing medicine, but I think you can understand the principle.

Here’s how it applies to bipolar disorder: Say you have bipolar disorder, and you go to your bipolar support group, and there’s someone there who is really stable. Well, you observe them, and you “act as if” you are stable. Over time, IF you do the same things that they do to be stable, then, you can be stable, too. Same thing with being a supporter. If you see someone who’s a good supporter, “act as if” you’re a good supporter, and IF you do the same things they do to be a good supporter, then, over time, you can be a good supporter, too.

Here’s how it can work with attitudes: If you have a bad attitude, just “act as if” you have a good attitude and, with time, you will have a good attitude! If you’re in a bad mood, even, just “act as if” you’re in a good mood and, over time, you will be in a good mood.

Same thing with understanding. Pick a person you know who you consider an understanding person. Observe them. Then “act as if.” Pretty soon, you will be an understanding person, too. And if you’re a supporter, you know how important being understanding of your loved one is.

Whatever characteristic you want, this principle will work for it. Try kindness, for example. Find someone who is kind, then “act as if.” If you want to be a hard worker, find someone who is, then “act as if.” Or creative. Everyone can be creative in some way or another. Now, I’m not saying everyone was born to be a Picasso or an actor or a famous composer or writer. But everyone has some creativity in them. Find someone you would like to model. Then “act as if” you are creative, and you will be!

You can do anything you want to do. You can have any characteristic you want to have. You can be anything you want to be. Just “act as if.” If you have bipolar disorder, and you want stability, then “act as if” you are stable (just remember to do all the things you need to do in order to be stable as well). If you want to be a good supporter, then just “act as if” you are a good supporter.

The rest will come over time. If you want to be a good person, find a good person whose qualities you admire. Then “act as if” you already have those qualities. Over time, you will have those qualities.

Just remember the principle of: ACT AS IF. Try this principle for yourself.

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave