Hi,<\/p>\n
I was reading about this philanthropist the other day. Now, if you don\u2019t know what a philanthropist is, it\u2019s someone with a great deal of money, who gives away lots of that money to charity. So it made me think of something. I think it\u2019s not necessarily what you think that counts, but what you do that matters. Like, remember that old saying: \u201cActions speak louder than words.\u201d I think it\u2019s like that.<\/p>\n
You know how I\u2019m always urging you to be a positive thinker. Well, I\u2019m not changing my stand on that or anything. But what I\u2019m saying is that your actions will be a natural offshoot of what you think. If you think positively, your actions will reflect that, and they will be positive actions.
\nBut what if you have negative thoughts? Do your actions have to necessarily be negative ones?<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what\u2019s challenged my thinking. See, I don\u2019t think it has to be that way. I know as a supporter of a loved one with bipolar disorder, you experience some pretty negative feelings toward your loved one, their bipolar disorder, and sometimes even your life in general.<\/p>\n
Having negative feelings is a natural part of having to deal with bipolar disorder. What\u2019s important is the action you take on those feelings, though. And what I\u2019m saying is that I don\u2019t think your actions have to necessarily be negative ones as a response to your negative feelings.<\/p>\n
Now, I\u2019m not saying you have to stuff your feelings, either, as that wouldn\u2019t be healthy for you.
\nBut I\u2019m saying that you can deal with your negative feelings in a healthy way and make a
\ndecision to act in a positive manner toward your loved one IN SPITE OF your negative feelings toward them.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s an example: Say you\u2019re feeling angry at your loved one. First, you need to recognize and get to the root of WHY you\u2019re angry at them in the first place. Because there can be a variety of reasons why you\u2019re mad at them. You could even be angry at them simply because they have bipolar disorder, or because it\u2019s caused a big change in your lives, and you resent that. But you can decide IN SPITE OF that anger, to not treat them in an angry manner, and to still be supportive of them and their attempts at recovery from their bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n
Or\u2026Say they\u2019ve done something specific to make you angry. Say you\u2019re even in an argument over something they\u2019ve done. Here\u2019s a good one (and a very common one for people dealing with bipolar disorder): Say you\u2019ve caught your loved one spending money excessively, and now you\u2019re in an argument about it. Are you angry? Yes. Is this a negative feeling? Yes. Do you want to fight about it? Yes. But can you CHOOSE to react in a positive manner IN SPITE OF your negative feeling? Yes. You can choose to walk away from the fight. You can choose to rise above your anger. You can choose to manage your money so that it doesn\u2019t happen again.<\/p>\n
Do you see how you can do positive things with a negative feeling?<\/p>\n
Well, I have to go!<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi,<\/p>\n
I was reading about this philanthropist the other day. Now, if you don\u2019t know what a philanthropist is, it\u2019s someone with a great deal of money, who gives away lots of that money to charity. So it made me think of something. I think it\u2019s not necessarily what you think that counts, but what you do that matters. Like, remember that old saying: \u201cActions speak louder than words.\u201d I think it\u2019s like that.<\/p>\n