Managing Your Mental Illness Can Inspire Others
This week we focus on being inspired and inspiring others.
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Hi there!
Some days I feel helpless. I know it’s a lie my bipolar brain tells me, but the feeling is so overwhelming, it’s tough to fight it.
When you’re struggling with a mental illness, it can feel like you’re always swimming against the tide. Winning feels impossible. On those days when I feel like I’m drowning I try to remember how even tiny actions can have an enormous impact.
When one person refuses to give up, no matter how bad things are, it can inspire others to take action. I know this because I’m living proof of it.
"It's easy to feel helpless–like you can't fight the tide. But remember: small actions can have a huge impact, and one person like you can inspire others to action."
- Celeste Ng
Every day, I battle bipolar disorder, and it’s a challenging war. At times, I want to give up. The path feels too hard and the load too heavy to carry.
Then I think of my readers. I know my story might help someone who is feeling lost and alone. It’s the whole reason I started the Speaking Bipolar blog. I didn’t always share my story, but after I lost a friend to mental illness, I wondered if my experiences could have helped him.
I don’t want anyone else to suffer alone. When you know you are not alone and others have the same feelings, it gives you strength to carry on.
This week, we’re going to focus on how helping ourselves can often help others. The life you’re living matters, and there are people silently applauding your progress. They may never tell you, but your strength empowers them to keep going.
Think of someone who inspired you but you never told them how you felt. It could be a teacher, partner, or even a celebrity. Your person may even be someone who lived hundreds of years ago.
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Think about how your inspiring person helped you. Keep those thoughts front and center because tomorrow (for paid subscribers) we’ll dive into how you can inspire others the same way.
Monday’s Journal Prompt: Who inspired you to be a better person or to improve your mental health? How did they help you? Did you ever tell them? Write a letter to your person telling them what their example meant to you. (This letter is for you to keep.)
Until next time, keep fighting.
Scott Ninneman
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Additional Reading
The book that started it all…
Scott Ninneman is the author of Speaking Bipolar’s 30 Days of Positivity and the writer behind SpeakingBipolar.com. Living in the mountains of southeast Tennessee, he spends his days crunching numbers as a tax preparer and his nights caring for his mother and writing stories about bipolar life. (And he loves pandas.)
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Love you Scott!