Bipolar: “Act As If”
Published: Fri, 07/12/13
Hi ,
How's it going?
I hope it's going good for you.
Today I want to talk to you about a principle
I've heard of called:
ACT AS IF
Yogi Berra once said:
"You can observe a lot just by watching."
When we watch other people, we learn how to "act
as if."
We watch a patient person, and we learn how to be
patient.
We don't have to spend $150 on a course we buy through
the mail, or attend a college course, or get a degree in
patience, or pay $1,000 to a "patience coach" to teach us
how to be patient -
We just "act as if" we are patient, until we become a
patient person.
Over time, we will become more patient.
If we watch how good listeners listen, we can "act as if"
we know how to listen.
Then, one day, we will realize that we really do know
how to be a good listener!
Of course, we can't just watch a doctor and "act as if"
we're a doctor and one day put a shingle on our door and
begin practicing medicine, but I think you can understand
the principle.
Here's how it applies to bipolar disorder:
Say you have bipolar disorder, and you go to your bipolar
support group, and there's someone there who is really
stable.
Well, you observe them, and you "act as if" you are stable.
Over time, IF you do the same things that they do to be
stable, then, you can be stable, too.
Same thing with being a supporter.
If you see someone who's a good supporter, "act as if"
you're a good supporter, and IF you do the same things
they do to be a good supporter, then, over time, you can
be a good supporter, too.
Here's how it can work with attitudes:
If you have a bad attitude, just "act as if" you have a good
attitude and, with time, you will have a good attitude!
I talk a lot about how very important it is to have a good
attitude, whether you have bipolar disorder or are supporting
someone who does, in my courses/systems:
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 in a bad mood, even, just "act as if" you're in a good
mood and, over time, you will be in a good mood.
Same thing with understanding.
Pick a person you know who you consider an understanding
person.
Observe them.
Then "act as if."
Pretty soon, you will be an understanding person, too.
And if you're a supporter, you know how important being
understanding of your loved one is.
Whatever characteristic you want, this principle will work
for it.
Try kindness, for example.
Find someone who is kind, then "act as if."
If you want to be a hard worker, find someone who is, then
"act as if."
Or creative.
Everyone can be creative in some way or another.
Now, I'm not saying everyone was born to be a Picasso or
an actor or a famous composer or writer.
But everyone has some creativity in them.
Find someone you would like to model.
Then "act as if" you are creative, and you will be!
You can do anything you want to do.
You can have any characteristic you want to have.
You can be anything you want to be.
Just "act as if."
If you have bipolar disorder, and you want stability, then
"act as if" you are stable (just remember to do all the things
you need to do in order to be stable as well).
If you want to be a good supporter, then just "act as if"
you are a good supporter.
The rest will come over time.
If you want to be a good person, find a good person whose
qualities you admire.
Then "act as if" you already have those qualities.
Over time, you will have those qualities.
Just remember the principle of:
ACT AS IF
Try this principle for yourself.
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Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
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