Bipolar: It Helps to Practice This More Often
Published: Fri, 03/22/13
Hi ,
How are things going?
I hope you're doing good.
I think of myself as a patient man, but there are
still times when I'm not patient.
Yet I know the more patient I am, the easier things
will be for me in the long run.
Like waiting in lines at the grocery store or department
store check-out.
What good does it do me to be impatient, when there's
nothing I can do about the situation?
Impatience just leads to (more) frustration.
Or like if someone cuts me off in traffic.
It makes me angry, but it still doesn't change the
situation.
Where if I were more accepting (more patient), I
would just think something like, "Well, that person
is in more of a hurry than I am."
Of course, we can't always be this rational, though,
can we?
Still, developing patience is a good idea for all of us
to practice.
The more patient you are, the more you will be willing
to accept things the way they are instead of how you
would like them to be.
This is a concept called mindfulness.
Your loved one might be learning about it in their
therapy sessions and may have talked to you about
it.
Patience is more than a virtue when you're dealing
with bipolar disorder.
It's a necessity.
In my courses/systems, I talk about ways to deal with
your loved one's behavior, and patience is definitely
one of those ways.
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
If you're caught in traffic, for example, instead of
being impatient and getting all frustrated, you need
to just accept what is happening, and use that time
to relax or breathe.
Have you ever heard the expression:
"Don't sweat the small stuff. And it's all small
stuff."
Well, Richard Carlson, PhD wrote a book called that,
and offers some useful advice here.
He suggests having "Patience Practice Periods."
He says that you should start with a small amount of
time and build up to a larger amount of time.
He says that you start by telling yourself:
"Okay, for the next five minutes I won't allow
myself to be bothered by anything. I'll be patient."
Once you've mastered five minutes, you can go
longer, until you really do actually become a more
patient person.
Being patient allows you to keep your perspective,
instead of that perspective being clouded over by
frustration or even anger (at something you can't
change) or stress.
For example:
You might find yourself frustrated by your loved
one's lack of progress.
First you try the "Practice Patience Period" that Carlson
talked about.
If that doesn't work for a long enough period, think
of it consciously this way:
"My present challenge is not life or death. It just is."
You can't change your loved one or their behavior
anyway - only they can do that.
And if you repeat the above enough times, you might
actually find yourself accepting the situation much
better, and having less stress over it.
You can even teach it to your loved one, which will
help them have less stress in their life, which will help
their bipolar disorder.
Being more patient can be a conscious thing to do, if
you practice the suggestions in this email.
It will also lead to less stress and complications for you.
Try "Practicing Patient Periods" for yourself and see how
they work out for you.
I think it's a great way to become more patient with your
loved one and their bipolar disorder.
Think of some things you do that help you to be
patient.
Try doing more of these things.
What do you think?
PLEASE POST RESPONSES TO THIS EMAIL BELOW
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/bipolarsupporterblog/bipolar-it-helps-to-practice-this-more-often-2/comment-page-1/#comment-65992
FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT ME
Visit: http://www.bipolarcentral.com/testimonials
Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
===>> Great Resources For You <===
Get Your Own Subscription To This Newsletter
Want your own copy of these daily bipolar
emails sent to you for F.ree? If so, visit:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/register3
Get More Help On Bipolar Disorder
Don't forget to take a look through the
different programs I've put together... each
one is designed to help you with a different
area of bipolar disorder whether you have it or
you are supporting someone with it.
You can see them all and get the details by visiting:
http://www.bipolarcentralcatalog.com
View Past Daily Bipolar Emails For F.REE
Check out my F.ree blog with copies of emails
that I have sent in the past and lots of great
information for you:
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/supporterblog/
Get Audio Information On Bipolar Disorder For F.REE
Check out my F.ree podcast. Hear me give
mini seminars designed to teach you information
you can't learn anywhere else.
http://bipolarcentral.libsyn.com