I've learned to understand, and more importantly accept, that life has very natural ups and downs that I can really be okay with. Those are different from severe ups (mania) and downs (depression) that are outside the norm for my everyday mood fluctuations. I do feel much, much better at dealing with whatever life throws at me so that I don't spiral up or down into a mood state that is beyond my ability to manage on my own. I'd say I'm probably 80% better at that than I used to be; I can be quite content with that. Life is never 100% better -- certainly not for any sustained period of time; crap happens -- but life has certainly improved overall.