I can now experience sadness, despair and even depression as transient emotions. I am much less afraid of unpleasant feelings because I can grasp that they are not forever. Consequently, I have more energy for my life because I'm not always paddling furiously to stay ahead of depression. I also can more often maintain an awareness of my feelings so that I don't need to act on every thing I feel.

Sometimes I'm having a problem, a difficult memory or an unpleasant thought and I can say to myself "oh, hey, that seems like something to address in therapy." Knowing it will get dealt with in due course, I can often put it down for awhile and go about my business less distracted.

I have a more realistic sense of what is my responsibility and what lies within my control in relationships. When things don't go well, I am not (usually) 100% to blame and I cannot repair a relationship without the effort, consent and goodwill of the other person. I cannot do their work for them.

There is still a long way to go developing all these skills but I'm much better at all of them than I used to be.