I'm med free and I live a pretty calm good life. For me the biggest thing was perspective. Working on DBT and CBT type therapy. I didn't do most of that work in therapy but books and internet. Using mindfulness, meditation and yoga. Getting skills to to deal with depression, which can curb it quickly. Learning how to manage my life in way that brings me a sense of contentment.
Other things that have helped me are having a healthy diet, I am also gluyen free due to celiac but that had a big impact in my mood. Activity, finding sports I enjoy and can do regulary. Generally tryig to achieve a healthy balance all around.
It was a long process for me.I was medicated for many years. The meds seemed to make things worse for me so I looked for other ways to bring stability into my life before I got off them. I had a pretty ttaumatic upbringing so I did need to do a lot of work on my issues. I had what looked like a pretty bleak case of bipolar and other mental health problems.
I think that a happy peaceful life can be found with meds and without. But it is not easy either way, it takes effort but I think that it's worth it.
Sometimes meds are not a bad option either until you get to a place where you are stable and have figired out what you need to bring that balance, so you feel comfortable and confidant that you can work without them. And the knowledge to know when to ask for help if it is not working out.
Medications are no gaurentee of "normal" or content peaceful life, so I think these things are important for people on meds too, and important for people of all walks of life, metally ill or not. Creating the life we want is important.