So I came out of hospital at the beginning of October, and have been off work ever since, on sick leave (paid!). They gave me the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, which as I understand it, is not compatible with service life (I'm in the RAF). The military aren't obliged to abide by the disability discrimination act, so they are free to discharge anyone with a disability that they feel is not going to be able to contribute to the service way of life.
I'm not angry about this, I understand why the military has to do it, the nature of the job being what it is and all that. But what I find more difficult than anything else is the not knowing, the inbetween times that I find myself in. I'm not allowed to work, but I'm not free to pursue other employment. I have to wait until a medical board sits to determine whether I am allowed to stay in the raf or not. This is in February.
So, what to do? I've come up with 5 things that give me some focus, under the handy acronym RELAX!
R - Reading. Making sure I keep my mind occupied so it doesn't atrophy. Novels as well as non fiction. It's important to visualise when reading, and novels give me that opportunity.
E - Exercise. Giving my body a workout is essential if I'm going to stay motivated. It's too easy to vegetate. If I can put myself through the pain of exercise, I'll notice the gain in other areas too
L - listening. It's important to listen to your thoughts, to your spouse or family. But also taking the time to listen to God, and his agenda in your life. Then you can match the beat of your own heart to his will.
A - Aim for a goal. Whether that be a small or large goal, feeling that you've made some progress will spur you on to bigger achievements.
X - X-itement! Do something spontaneous, don't let your day become so planned and meticulous that it has no room for something coming out of the blue. Remember, blessed are the flexible, because they will never be bent out of shape!
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