Here are 100 things I learned in recovery 

1. My passion for Mental Health
2. Mental illness doesn’t define us
3. Self-Reliance
4. It’s okay to not be okay
5. There are no good or bad emotions, but there are good and bad ways of expressing emotions.
6. Resiliency
7. Self-Compassion is a priority
8. Self-Awareness is key
9. Coping skills that best work for me
10. We don’t owe anyone an explanation for self-care.
11. Beauty lives in our differences
12. Dialectical Behavior Therapy
13. Mindfulness
14. The more I loved myself – the more I fell in love with my kids
15. Not to feel guilty for self-care
16. Patience and understanding for others
17. Recovery comes first
18. How to stand up for myself and fight against stigma
19. Things will always work out – do not give up
20. We are not broken, weak or worthless
21. It’s never too late to become the person you want to be
22. The present moment is all you ever have
23. Who my true friends are
24. My story has helped make a difference
25. Internal vs. external Locus of Control
26. I found myself more at peace
27. I am Brave
28. Courageousness
29. I’m an introvert and value my alone time
30. To let go of my past mistakes; they do not define me
31. I am emotionally intelligent
32. Gained more self-esteem
33. Judgments are a confession of character
34. Happiness is found within
35. Self-Confidence is the best outfit; fucking own it
36. Mental Illness is nothing to be ashamed of
37. Self-love is the most important love
38. I am a stronger and healthier mother to my two kids
39. Without the dark and stormy days, we can’t learn to appreciate the good days
40. The Minds Like Ours are beautiful
41. Our feelings are valid; don’t justify them or seek approval – they are YOUR feelings.
42. Our behavior is driven by our emotions
43. Helping others makes me feel good – we rise by lifting others
44. Your worth is not defined by someone loving or not loving you
45. My worst days in recovery are by far better than the best days in my manic episodes
46. A bad day doesn’t equal a bad life
47. The words, “Fuck it” do come in handy every once in a while.
48. You are not a burden
49. You have to learn to love yourself before you can fully love someone else.
50. Do not be afraid to walk away from toxic relationships/friendships
51. Embrace the sadness
52. It’s okay to be different
53. Be patient with yourself
54. Recovery isn’t strictly about being “happy”, it is about learning to become whole.
55. The bad things people say about you are actually reflections of what they think of themselves, not you.
56. I am unique
57. Ultimately it’s only your opinion of yourself that matters. Do what makes YOU happy.
58. The art of meaningful conversations
59. Stigma’s three components are: Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination
60. EMDR therapy
61. Step outside your comfort zone – you might actually have fun
62. You are worth much more than you think
63. It all starts with willingness
64. I am a fighter, survivor and a warrior – so are you
65. Be acutely aware of your thoughts
66. No, we can’t just fucking “Get over it”
67. Good things take time
68. Expect nothing – appreciate everything
69. How beautiful it is to be alive
70. How to live less out of habit and more out of intent
71. We are the directors of our own mindset
72. Strength
73. Life’s a bitch sometimes
74. Mental illness is not a choice, but RECOVERY is
75. If you make friends with yourself, you will never be alone
76. I no longer want to compete with anyone but myself – I hope we all make it
77. Hold on to hope
78. Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do
79. How not to lose myself in the process of loving someone else
80. How to magnify your strengths, not your weaknesses
81. We can’t fix ourselves by breaking someone else
82. My appreciation for music
83. We are exactly where we need to be
84. BREATHEEEE!
85. Protect yourself with ADA
86. How to maintain a balanced life – parenting, career and education
87. I am emotionally sensitive- my emotions are more intense than the average person and that’s ok
88. Face your fears – It’s fucking liberating!
89. Be gentle with yourself
90. Your time is important – spend it on things you are passionate about
91. Make time for yourself
92. The part you play is sacred – you are priceless
93. How to manage impulsiveness
94. See the value in our stories
95. Trust your intuition
96. Everyone carries a piece of the puzzle; start a conversation
97. Your speed in recovery doesn’t matter; forward is forward
98. Life gives you challenges that you can overcome; be strong
99. Emotional awareness means recognizing, respecting and accepting your feelings as they happen.
100. How to discover who I truly am; gained a huge sense of self.