Letting Go

TO LET GO does not mean to stop caring; it means I can't do it for someone else.

TO LET GO is not to cut myself off; it's the realization that I can't control another.

TO LET GO is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands. Only when we admit this can we truly turn our loved ones over to God.

TO LET GO is not to try and change or blame another; it's to make the most of myself.

TO LET GO is not to fix, but to be supportive.

TO LET GO is understanding that our loved ones are separate from us, and will make their own choices.

TO LET GO is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own destinies.

TO LET GO is not to protect from reality; it's to permit another to face reality.

TO LET GO is not to criticize or regulate anyone, but to try to become what I dream I can be.

TO LET GO IS TO FEAR LESS AND TO LOVE MORE!

Take Care of Yourself First

Notice that the flight attendant always tells parents to put their oxygen masks on first, and then on their children? That's because if you don't take care of yourself first, you won't be able to take care of anyone else. Bipolar Disorder takes a toll on everyone around the one who has it, and at some point we might realize that we, too, are suffering from depression and/or anxiety from the constant stress. Good news! You are entitled to take care of yourself! You must take care of yourself first so that you will be able to take care of anyone else.

This means deciding what you can and cannot do/endure/put up with, and making that clear to everyone. You must do everything in your power to take care of yourself and improve the quality of your own life as much as possible. You will be suprised how taking this one step will improve not only your life but the lives of those you love.