Hi,<\/p>\n
Here’s an interesting challenge for you to think about: I dare you to be happy. Yep, just like when we were kids, and somebody dared you to do something. Or double-dared you\u2026I dare you to be happy. You might ask me, “Well, Dave, how can I be happy when I suffer from bipolar disorder or depression?” Well, I still dare you to be happy!<\/p>\n
See, happiness is a state of mind \u2013 an attitude. It doesn’t depend on whether everything is going
\nright in your life. It has to do with how you FEEL about your life. Everything doesn\u2019t have to be perfect for you to be happy. You don\u2019t have to have everything going your way for you to be happy. You don\u2019t even have to have everything under control for you to be happy.<\/p>\n
And your happiness does not depend on whether you are cured or not. I know a person who has bipolar disorder, and she still has episodes from time to time, but she is still happy. This is because she has a good life, and even though she still has episodes (because she still has a chemical imbalance in her brain), she has learned how to manage her bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n
This woman is one of the most positive people you’d ever want to meet. See, this is what I’m talking about. This woman still has bipolar disorder, but she is HAPPY! It’s all about your state of mind (your attitude) towards life and your problems in it.<\/p>\n
You can choose to focus on the negative or you can choose to focus on the positive. You can choose to be unhappy or you can choose to be happy. Yes, happiness is a CHOICE. One that YOU can make!<\/p>\n
So\u2026I dare you to be happy!<\/p>\n
There are things you have control over and things you don\u2019t have control over. Your attitude is one of the things you DO have control over. Regardless of your moods, or the mood swings
\nthat come with bipolar disorder, that is.<\/p>\n
And for supporters of loved ones with bipolar disorder, who might suffer with depression, it’s the same thing. You could be depressed from time to time, but you can still be happy. I know, that sounds weird, doesn’t it? But depression is a temporary state of mind \u2013 it will pass, if you let it.<\/p>\n
But generally speaking, you can be a positive person. You can make a CHOICE to be happy. You can control your attitude, and still be happy with your life, you can still be happy with yourself, you can still be happy with things in general. You can change the things in your life that you have the power to change. This will make you happy.<\/p>\n
Or you can accept the things that you cannot change, which will also make you happy. Acceptance is a powerful force in itself. And acceptance can bring happiness.<\/p>\n
So, despite bipolar disorder, despite depression, you can still be happy, that’s what I’m saying. So\u2026 I dare you to be happy. I double-dare you!<\/p>\n
Well, I have to go!<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi,<\/p>\n
Here’s an interesting challenge for you to think about: I dare you to be happy. Yep, just like when we were kids, and somebody dared you to do something. Or double-dared you\u2026I dare you to be happy. You might ask me, “Well, Dave, how can I be happy when I suffer from bipolar disorder or depression?” Well, I still dare you to be happy!<\/p>\n
See, happiness is a state of mind \u2013 an attitude.<\/p>\n