Hi,
I hope you’re having a good day.
I was looking at a good movie to see today. I want to take a break.
I read an interview with Leonardo DiCaprio, who is such a famous movie star now that he makes $20 million per movie!
But the interview wasn’t about that – in fact, it wasn’t about fame and fortune at all.
This interview was about DiCaprio’s relationship with his “Oma,” his grandmother who had just died.
“Sometimes I’d ask Oma,” DiCaprio said, “Isn’t it great now, all this stuff happening in my life?”
And she answered him, “Don’t you worry about that. Take a break. Be a bricklayer. Work with your hands. You’ll love it. Step back and reflect on what’s going on in your life. Appreciate it.”
So here’s what he told the interviewer after that:
“I do appreciate it. I know how lucky I am.”
Wow.
No Hollywood hoopla. No ego.
No bragging about what a great star he is, how rich he is, how big his house is, what kind of car he drives, or how great his next movie is going to be.
He wanted to talk about his Oma, and the lesson she taught him.
And that’s what I want to talk to you about today.
“Step back and reflect on what’s going on in your life,” Oma said.
“I do appreciate it. I know how lucky I am,” DiCaprio said.
Both those who have bipolar disorder and their supporters can take a lesson from those wise words.
In my courses/systems, I tell you not to let bipolar disorder rule your whole life, and suggest ways for you not to let that happen:
NEW LEARN THE SECRETS OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/bipolarmastersystem/
SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11
SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarparenting.com
HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.survivebipolar.net
You need to reflect on your life and make sure that it’s not centered entirely around your/your loved one’s bipolar disorder.
You need to reflect on what’s going on in your life. If all your activities are bipolar-related activities, you need to make some changes.
There should be more to your life than just bipolar disorder. You need to appreciate your life. You need to appreciate yourself, and the strength it takes on a daily basis to fight this disorder. You need to appreciate your relationship with your loved one, because you need to stick together against your common enemy, bipolar disorder.
You need to appreciate your family and friends who have stuck by you in spite of the disorder.
You need to appreciate the fact that you are not homeless and penniless, as many people are who have a mental illness.
You need to appreciate having a strong support system.
You need to appreciate having a good doctor, psychiatrist, and therapist.
You need to appreciate that YOU control the disorder, instead of the disorder controlling you.
Because it’s hard to appreciate a life that’s controlled by bipolar disorder.
There HAS to be more to your life than just the disorder.
There should be enjoyment in your life.
There should be productivity in your life.
There should be relationships in your life – family, friends, etc.
You should even have a social life.
Other than the occasional episode, you should be living a life as normal as someone who doesn’t have (or doesn’t have a loved one with) bipolar disorder.
So reflect on your life.
Appreciate it.
Appreciate all the small things that go into it to make it beautiful.
Take a lesson from Leonardo DiCaprio, so you too can say:
“I do appreciate it. I know how lucky I am.”
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David Oliver is the author of the shocking guide “Bipolar Disorder—The REAL Silent Killer.” Click Here to get FREE Information sent via email on how and why bipolar disorder kills.
Post responses below
Dave,
I appreciate your emails and information. I cannot take your course since I cannot afford $500.00 but I know it is well worth it. Please limit your emails to me to 2X a week, as I get about 20 a day.
Thanks very much for your wonderful work,
Linda
Well, I” m not quite a fan of Di Caprio, like Sir Anthony Hopkins……
Im in a great place today since I found the perfect shrink for my daughter and he listened too me when I said she has bipolar. Her did his tests on her and informed me on some thing I didnt know… that is bipolar people tend to also have add or adhd i never knew! The best part was when he looked at me and said “your right Ur daughter does have bipolar!” Finnally someone listened too me and accepted what I already knew! My daughter stopped feeling missunderstood by docters!
Dear David,
This sounds so sweet and nice when talking about us with bipolar and our support. But what about those of us who are alone with no one to share our lives with and only our often-out of sync minds to deal with ourselves. It is hard to appreciate our lives at this point. Try it sometime.
I wake up every morning and thank God I’m able to get out of bed and function. And would you believe? I even reflect on the fact that I have bipolar disorder, because through all my hospitalizations and group therapies – not to mention 1-on-1 with my therapist – I have learned empathy and compassion, two of the greatest emotions you can develop.
Although I turn 61 next month, and am twice-widowed, I have NO live-in supporter to monitor my moods and to “gab” with on a daily basis. I miss companionship. You can’t have TOO many friends who give you unconditional love. I can count on the fingers on my hand the number of friends I have like that – and thank God for their understanding and “sympathy.” I DON’T get on a “pity-pot” about my bipolar, but just “wish” I had someone to share my life with…
Yes – Leo IS a famous and wealthy actor – but I strongly believe that if he follows his “Oma’s” advice, he just might lay a brick or two and stay just as normal as anyone else. AND – I “appreciate” the gifts I’ve been given through having this illness – the good AND the bad – in that it is a daily learning experience, and boy, have I ever LEARNED!!
I made my 3rd proposal for a freelance writing job just now, and hope that I can be productive in that endeavor. Not only do I NEED the money – but it keeps my MIND active and reactive, and gives me something to wake up for in the morning.
BIG HUGS to all bipolar survivors and those who love us. May God bless us real good. I pray for my country.
Dave,
Pretty tolerant in what I read. Usually save you messages in a separate file.
This one I will delete.
Dave,
It sounds so lovely to have that “supportive family” that you always talk about. I’m telling you in my family it’s a load of….hogwash. I have wonderful friends who don’t bash me or try to deliberatly hurt me, which my sisters enjoy, makes them feel “big”. Ever since I was diagnosed they have been even meaner and cruel than ever before. Of course they blame me for it. But honestly I am trying to get better and they are trying to push me to suicide. They have gone behind my back and had me removed as my Mother’s POA. They weren’t even going to tell me, but have the attorney call me. That is not kind, caring it is nothing but cruel. And the emails she sends telling me what a horrible person I am. Well they are the only ones who think so. My employees and my friends think I am kind, generous and loving. But not my sisters. Now they have taken my Mother, in the early stages of Alzhiemers, and turned her against me too. I am not being paranoid. They are trying to drive me to suicide and they just might succeed. I just can’t take their hatred anymore. They want to go to my therapists with me. For what? She knows the truth about me, they dont’t and I’m not wasting a valuble session having to deal with those two. What’s your suggestion, cut the out. Example of how kind they are: Christmas Eve, the one who lives in the same town told me she was “Sick to death of me, don’t ever come near her again and leave Mother alone. Didn’t even speak to my Mother on Christmas, first time in 49 years. Haven’t spoken to that sister since. She doesn’t want to talk to me ever again.The other just sends hateful emails from VA. Telling me her version of my life, which she knows nothing about, as she only makes contact when she feels like being ugly. I feel if I go back there and try to make peace I will end up dead. I am grateful for my business, friends but NOT my FAMILY who would be?
I liked the lesson here. I try to appreciate things like you have mentioned. My adult daughter has bi-polar and recently came home to live after leaving her husband and 2 children. We all live in the same town but its taken alot to let her live with me and her dad. The bi-polar (mood swings)come and go. I remind her to appreciate things too. I appreciate that you have this news letter. I too can’t afford the whole progam but this is helping.
I know from experience that not everyone is fortunate enough to have a good therapist or psychiatrist, or even be on the right medication, for that matter. In addition, every survivor may not have supporting friends or family. Everyone may not have a great social life.
I have a problem with the words “should” and “need to”….Yes, we “should” have all those things (and more), but sometimes we do not have control over all those things in our lives. Personally, I think there is more to living than being overwhelmed over what we ‘should’ have. We can only make changes over the things that we are able. Yes, we should be thankful for what we do have, but not be depressed for the things in which we don’t.
Dave,
I want to say that in all the years I have DiCaprio I never thought he was that selfless and non egotistical, and now I know even millionares can give pretty sound advice and encouragment.
I also want to say that I did let Bipo;ar run my life and it got the best of me for a long time, I am just glad I didn’t and my doctors and therapists didn’t let it ruin my life completely. I know I don’t have control over it 100% but no one does and or can.. But I can say I am glad my husband has stuck by me through some really tough times and knows when he can’t handle it anymore, but thank god we haven’t been that far with this that he has had to hospitalize me or it..
I do have to say that Bipolar Disorder has been turned in to an excuse for people to get a “Get out of Jail or Prison free card”, for those of us with the disorder and have never done anything to harm anyone else it lumps us in that catagory of they have that then they can get away with murder!!!!
I apreciate my days with my family and the days I am not having an episode, and god willing I will have more days where I won’t have to be affraid of an episode..
I am so glad you are listening to those who are dealing with it personally or care for someone with this, it’s helpful to voice our opinions and not feel judges I think is what I am trying to say.. Any enjoy your day and keep doing what you are doing for people.
God Bless,
Becky
Dave,
YOUR THE MAN!!!!Thank-you I have type 1 Bipolar With Your help you get me out of bed each AND everyday!! My 12 year-old son is living in this hell, however you are helping (holding his hand) him through it.My husband can only keep telling him it will be OK,but now he really knows it WILL be OK.If I never get better thats fine, I have the best and most loving people, I just feel better knowing you are helping my son in this mess.
I can not thank-you enough keep up the great work!!!!
Ellie
i have also bipolar mood disoder its sucks life what is in this life
Hello, the whole thing is going sound here and ofcourse every one is sharing
data, that’s truly good, keep up writing.