The 4 agreements

On this the first day of our 50 day challenge we began with The 4 Agreements.

I am still fighting my way to the surface, my depression is lingering and this book though simple in context resonates with me.
His concept of 100% and that it means different things is a lesson I am working on accepting.
One of the largest byproducts of Bipolar is the little voice that comes to play.
When you are manic you are invincible and can do no wrong. When depressed you are simply totally useless and can do no right.
Ruiz's definition of what being empecable means along with 100% are a gentle reminder that the voices are not correct.
That voice is the  "domesticated child's voice", one that was domesticated with negativity, criticism and cruelty. It has no meaning or power for me now, today. Depression lures me into forgetting that.

. Being impeccable is not going against yourself. When you are impeccable, you take responsibility for your actions, but you do not judge or blame yourself.”

The other big reminder for me was on defining 100%..

 “Under any circumstance, always do your best, no more and no less. But keep in mind that your best is never going to be the same from one moment to the next. Everything is alive and changing all the time, so your best will sometimes be high quality, and other times it will not be as good.

In my Communit-E group we have been discussing this concept lately. That 100% today will be different than yesterday and tomorrow. That we can only work at being our best and that it changes on any given day.
A good reminder for me today as well.

I went to bed last night with hopeful intentions for the coming day.
I had assumed the Depression would have lifted ( ha).
So I did not do the things I had promised myself.  This reminder of what doing your best truly means comes at a good time.
I will remind that little voice gently that I am doing my best, giving 100%. Today is today and no negative chatter in the world will ever fix that.

“Nobody abuses us more than we abuse ourselves.”

~ Don Miguel Ruiz

So I will do what I can today. Send that tortured child back to sleep with words of kindness and focus on the now peacefully.