Do you know about glimmers? They are the opposite of triggers.

A trigger can be a sound, smell, or an image that induces bipolar symptoms. Triggers are negative and cause unwanted reactions.

A glimmer is the polar opposite. Your glimmers can be anything that adds joy, peace, happiness, or gratitude to your life.

Here are a few examples of glimmers:

The yellow wildflower you see growing between the cracks in the sidewalk.

The red and orange sunset filling the evening sky.

The smile of a toddler as they hand you a gift they made.

Glimmers are everywhere, but you have to be open to them. These spots of light can also change your life.

Change

Even simple glimmers can change the direction your life is going. Often it’s the tiniest things that have the biggest impact.

For me, that impact came recently in a Facebook post.

In the 2024 Year-End Review Video Series, I announced my word for 2025 was going to be “simplify.” I still like the concept of making things simpler and will probably simplify many things in my life, but now I’m leaning toward another word.

The Facebook post made me look at things differently. It said:

“Every year you make a resolution to change yourself. This year, make a resolution to be yourself.”

The words made me meditate on who I really am and if I truly accept that person.

I never realized how many of my traits I wasn’t accepting until I really thought about it. Do you feel the same way? What can you do if you need more acceptance in your life?

Here are three things that will help.

Journal

My number one tool for managing my stability is my journal. Those lined pages are where I sort out my thoughts and explore my feelings.

For acceptance, I’m starting with my journal as well. But where do you start?

Here are a few questions I used to get me going.

• What don’t I like about myself?
• What things do I think I need to improve?
• How do I speak to myself, and what do I say?
• Which self-talk messages should I change?

Working through these journal prompts will help you determine what areas of your life want more acceptance.

The next step is to make a plan to fix it.

Plan

It’s one thing to recognize you have a problem, and another thing entirely to do something about it.

Learning to accept yourself and your diagnosis is an ongoing process. Even when you think you’ve mastered it, you may find things you’re still hiding from. Maybe even things about yourself.

In the journaling exercise, you identified some areas where you need to be more accepting. Now it’s time to work out how you’re going to fix those things.

Here are a few prompts to help.

• How can I change the things I say to myself?
• What can I do to accept my diagnosis?
• Who can help me be more accepting of myself?

With a plan in place, the final step is to take action.

Act

The last step is to take action. An important key here is to start with one thing.

I used to say I was a great multitasker, but the truth is, no one really is. Not even you.

No matter how well you think you’re doing multiple things at once, none of them are getting the attention they would if you focused on only one.

You can’t ride two motorcycles at once, nor should you try. So, stick to one thing.

The same is true for pursuing acceptance. Pick one item you identified above and plot out a path to acceptance.

Apply

One area I’m not accepting myself is my weight. I’m roughly 40 lb (18 kg) over my ideal weight. Not an enormous difference in the big scheme of things.

It’s not like I’m ready to star on My 1,000-Pound Life, but it’s enough to make me hate looking at myself in the mirror.

So my body image is the acceptance area I’m beginning with. Here’s how I’m doing it.

First, in my journal, I explored where my negative thoughts about being overweight came from. I looked at how I would view a friend who had the same issue, and how I would support them.

Next, I made a plan to accept my current weight. I’m not giving up on weight loss, but I’m going to stop beating myself up because I’m overweight now.

My plan includes using affirmations, journaling consistently about how I feel about my weight, and celebrating the minor victories I have along the way.

Finally, I’m putting my plan into motion. I wrote affirmations on sticky notes and posted them around the house. Each positive saying will help me remember to love myself no matter the shape of my body.

Back in my journal, I‘m exploring those affirmations and writing positive things about myself. I’m struggling with this last part. My mind and negative bipolar thoughts are fighting me every step of the way.

I know things will improve, but it will take some time. My job is to never give up. That’s your job, too.

Accept yourself

Acceptance can be a tough job in today’s social-media world, and especially so if you’re fighting bipolar disorder. While you may accept everything about the people you love, it’s too common to beat yourself up for the things you don’t like about yourself.

This is the year to change. Pick one goal from your list, and work through it.

I’m changing my theme word for 2025 to “acceptance”. I want to learn to love and accept myself like I should and recognize the ways where I’ve been unkind to myself.

I’ll be sharing my progress with you throughout the year. Now, let’s love and accept ourselves.

Reader, thank you for starting a new year with me. I’m thrilled to have you here, and I know we’re going to do amazing things this year.

How are you going to accept yourself this year? Hit reply and tell me. I read every email.

Until next time, keep fighting.

Scott Ninneman

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Additional Reading:

• ​Don't Do What I Did: Fighting For You With Bipolar Disorder​
• ​Navigating Bipolar Disorder With Other Health Conditions​
• ​Numbness, Nightmares, and Neverland: Adjusting to Life With Bipolar Disorder​
• ​Revealing What Happens When Experiencing Bipolar Blur​
• ​The Monday I Almost Killed My Computer​
• ​Archive Newsletters​