What I'm Doing About It

I'm definitely bipolar. Edit: A few people have mentioned to me that bipolar was the wrong word to describe myself, so I'd like to replace that word with "moody".

I'm not persuaded that is much more than a behavioral condition (at least in my case), but, in recent years, I've found my physical and mental state fluctuating more frequently than is normal.

Today I was listening to this message from a man named Bob Goff. In it he encouraged his listeners to do what they already know they should do to maintain a clear relationship with our Creator. And so this article is a reminder to myself of some important things that I know need to change so I can stop feeling like I don't know about so many other important things.

When I was 15, I decided to follow Jesus and his teachings in the Scriptures because I was convinced that we're created and that our Creator is passionately interested in us in the most benevolent way possible. As an immediate and direct result I found myself overcome with a consistent and inexplicable joy.

At 21, I slammed into depression that brought me to a cliff that I wouldn't have come back from. Emptiness and hopelessness remained my closest companion until, I believe, our Creator quietly and humbly intervened. And since then I've continue to find those obnoxious companions revisiting me at every opportunity, though less and less frequently.

Bob's right; I need to eliminate absolutely everything that stands in my way of a completely loving relationship with our Creator. Then I need to adopt absolutely everything that I'm certain will draw me closer to our Creator. Of course neither of these are things I can achieve, perfectly, without the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead existing within me.

So, through Christ who strengthens me, this entry is a reminder to myself, and hopefully encouragement to others, of what I know I can do to get back to that place and leave this bipolar perspective behind me:

1. Control my mind. Yeah, I know, this is broad, but I'm deliberately being vague because the simple fact is that I allow my mind to wander and it develops into complete lack of self control that hurts me and everyone around me. Like a plant, if the seed doesn't hit the soil, nothing is going to grow.
2. Prioritizing a schedule above all else so that I'll develop greater self control which can be used to obey God.
1. Reading the Scriptures and praying at least twice a day (during breakfast and after dinner). I'd like to read through the various genre's of Scripture as well (Law, OT History, Wisdom, Major and Minor Prophets, NT History and Letters).
2. Resting (sleeping, eating, meditating)
3. Rejuvenating (playing, travelling, creative)

The things I'm getting rid of are up to me, but the things I'm going to take up involve everyone I know starting with my wife and children, then my extended family, and finally my friends.

This isn't intended to be a new life-philosophy, but a form of correction so that I'll outpace those nasty companions I mentioned so that I might fully experience our Creator, now.