Determination Helps Me Conquer My Mental Illness

Working in my yard reminds me of how much being determined helps.

The older I get, the more I have to break jobs down into smaller pieces.

With yard work, that often means picking up sticks one day, mowing the next, and weed eating and cleanup the third day.

Working in the yard often reminds me of the value of determination.

In early spring, when I finally get the yard and flower beds back in shape, I trim the trees. It’s a strenuous project. I start by cutting branches from trees and bushes, carrying them down, load by load, to the burn pit behind my house.

Every year, the spring transformation takes me longer to complete, but it always gets done.

Determination keeps me going out there every free chance I get until I complete all the work. And when it is done, I sit on the swing on my front porch and enjoy how pretty my modest yard looks. It’s nothing special, but it’s well maintained.

“Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.” — Og Mandino

Determination and Mental Health

Determination is important for so many areas of life, but especially for taking care of your mental health.

When you’re coping with a mental illness like bipolar disorder, there are lots of days you want to give up. Too often, it feels impossible to get out of bed or face the world. Yet, with determination, most days you can do what needs to be done.

Millions of us go to work every day, take care of our families, and do our best to support our communities. It’s determination that keeps us moving even when all we want to do is stop.

When you’re feeling depressed, it’s tough to stay determined. But if you want to keep your mental health in check, it’s important to find ways to stay motivated. Here are a few tips:

1. Make a list of things you’re looking forward to.

Even when you’re feeling down, it’s important to remember that there are good things ahead. Make a list of things you’re looking forward to, whether it’s a vacation, a party, or just a day spent lounging around at home. When you have something to look forward to, it’ll be easier to keep your spirits up.

2. Take good care of you.

One of the best ways to combat depression is by seeing to your emotional and physical needs. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly. And don’t forget to take some time for yourself. Relax with a book, take a walk in the park, or do anything else that will recharge your batteries.

3. Connect with others.

Depression can make you feel isolated and alone, but it’s important to remember that you’re not the only one feeling this way.

Reach out to your friends and family members, and connect with others who are going through the same thing. Talking about your feelings can help ease them. Hearing from others who went through similar experiences will remind you that success is possible.

The Gift of Determination

Learning to be determined as a gift.

My mom calls it stubbornness when referring to my dad or her children, but it’s really just determination. When one of us sets out to do something, there’s no stopping us. It may take a while, but the task will get done.

I use that same determination to tackle my mental health every day.

My determination to remain stable makes me take my medications at the right time each day, eat healthy meals, and exercise when I can.

It’s important to do what you can each day.

By doing the right things on the better days, the harder days are easier to handle. So for today, think about determination and you.

If you find yourself feeling down and out, remember that determination can help you get through anything. You are not alone in your mental illness journey.

We all have bad days, but it’s our determination that gets us through to the good ones.

Write It Out

Explore your feelings about determination with these writing prompts.

Journal Prompt: How have you shown determination in the past? How has it helped you to achieve your goals? What did those lessons teach you?

Creative Writing Prompt: Write a story about how determination leads to success. Start the story with your main character saying, “I didn’t think I could do it until…”

Until next time, keep fighting.

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