Hi,<\/p>\n
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You\u2019ve heard it said that an optimist looks at a half a glass of water and sees it as half-full. While a pessimist looks at a half a glass of water and sees it as half-empty. Well, let me throw a third option at you. Think about this: A realist sees just a half a glass of water, neither half-full nor half-empty. Interesting, isn\u2019t it? Because usually we think in terms of optimistic and pessimistic, as in our attitudes. Or in our approaches to things. Because it\u2019s true that our approach to things colors how we\u2019ll see things. Like how you view your situation with a loved one who has bipolar disorder, or being a bipolar supporter. I always advise people in your situation to try to be<\/p>\n
optimistic about your situation. Because if you\u2019re optimistic, I believe it will help you more, and, ultimately, help you to help your loved one better.<\/p>\n
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See\u2026It\u2019s even been shown in studies that people who view things with an optimistic bent are even healthier than people who are more negative. So that\u2019s one good reason why I tell supporters that they should be an optimist. But that\u2019s not what I want to talk to you about today.<\/p>\n
Today I want to talk to you about that third option I talked about in the beginning. About being a realist. Because that\u2019s what I think you ultimately need to be (although I still believe you do need to be a positive person with a positive attitude \u2013 I don\u2019t believe that they are exclusive). I believe you can be realistic without being idealistic, if you know what I mean. Because too many people make the mistake of believing that if you\u2019re an optimist, it\u2019s like you have blinders on, and you don\u2019t see things realistically. Well, I believe that you still can.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s like the principle of mindfulness, that you might have come across in your loved one\u2019s therapy for their bipolar disorder (or your own). In mindfulness, you look at what\u2019s happening in the moment, and you don\u2019t judge it. You look at it the way it is, instead of the way you would like it to be. In other words\u2026You look at realistically. And that\u2019s the way you deal with it.<\/p>\n
Realistically. See\u2026I think that\u2019s the way you need to deal with things when you\u2019re trying to deal with a loved one with bipolar disorder \u2013 realistically. If you keep trying to deal with things the way you would like them to be instead of the way they are, you\u2019re going to get yourself into trouble. For one thing, it just isn\u2019t going to work. For another thing, you\u2019re just going to get frustrated. And you can get very stressed out if you\u2019re not careful. And too much stress can really burn you out as a supporter. But if you look at things realistically, you will do much better.<\/p>\n
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For example: It would be nice to believe that your loved one will never have another bipolar episode, wouldn\u2019t it? That would be an optimistic way of looking at things. But it\u2019s not very realistic, is it? Because chances are that they will have another episode. So, knowing that, you can prepare yourself to deal with it when it does happen. See what I mean?<\/p>\n
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Well, I have to go!<\/p>\n
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Your Friend,<\/p>\n
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Dave<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi,<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve heard it said that an optimist looks at a half a glass of water and sees it as half-full. While a pessimist looks at a half a glass of water and sees it as half-empty. Well, let me throw a third option at you. Think about this: A realist sees just a half a glass of water, neither half-full nor half-empty. Interesting, isn\u2019t it? Because usually we think in terms of optimistic and pessimistic,<\/p>\n