That’s my only resolution.
Do you think someone can “resolve” to be well? More so, someone with a chronic mental illness that is alive and kicking? If 2009 is my benchmark then my chances look slim.
I have good reasons to be motivated.
- Other people are better off when I’m well. My wife and kids are much happier, and very relieved. I can communicate calmly with my business partners. I get on better with my parents and friends.
- Being depressed is miserable. Hypomania is great for a while – I get a lot of mowing done – but it ends in misery too. For everyone, not just myself.
- When I’m well I’m physically healthier. I’m more sociable and people like me more.
- Being well costs less.
I receive a lot of great feedback from people using Optimism. It has genuinely helped them to achieve better health. There is a simple reason – they are being more proactive. There is nothing magical about the software. It is just a helpful tool. The secret is the attitude of the person using it. They are determined to make progress. Many people use Excel spreadsheets and journals in the same way to the same effect.
That’s my message to myself this year – be proactive. Exercise. Go to bed before midnight. Manage stress better. Drink less coffee. Drink more water. Go outside. Manage my medicines better. And the list continues on.
I’ve been tracking my moods for a long time now. I almost always know what has caused an episode of illness, and what I could have done to avoid it. Having that knowledge makes mood swings much more predictable.
There’s no guarantee that I’ll be well for a year, just because I resolve to be. But it’s not a bad resolution.
Anyone else?
saveyoursanity 12 Jan 2010 @ 4:07 pm
That’s definitely my resolution, boiled down.
Mykeshia 4 Mar 2010 @ 1:24 am
I too have depression issues, the only difference is that mine are easily handled because I haven’t reached the miserable point yet. Being optimistic betters your chances of healing, unless you are only using it as a cover up. Get rid of what makes you depressed and surround yourself with joyful poeple and things. I hate to see people stress of the unimportant things in life, God has your strength. One thing is for sure, if you weren’t born this way, I mean with a mental illness that causes depression, than it was only caused by world matters. These things come in part when you lose your faith in God and slowly drift away from his temple. Add church into your wellness plan, and I’m sure you will see a difference.