i have problems with the theme of this post. I will be the first to admit that enduring any form of suffering like mental illness can make you a more compassionate person, a person more willing to overlook the flaws in others and more empathetic to them.
But I think that this thread isn't about that. When I was in day hospital years ago, I met many bipolar disorder patients who were not compliant with specific regard to taking their medicines. These persons didn't want stability in their lives because they were addicted to their manic highs when they happened. That's why I believe this is a ghetto-ized viewpoint about liking mental illness.
These days I am pretty well. But I pay a high price for my similitude to wellness-- I take a lot of meds and suffer side-effects that will change my weight, my ability to desire women and my life expectancy. I also sleep alot which makes normal work harder to do with a shortened day. I would give up this illness in a New York minute. And if you care about yourself, you would too.
Please don't confuse what is good about yourself with the results of being ill. It is an illness, not some divine-given transformative experience. If you feel you have the capacity to do great things then commit yourself to a plan and try to do them without regard to your diagnosis. It's a pity bi-polars might use their illness as a world-filter.
That's just my two-cents. If this were a greek tragedy I'd get killed right now as the bearer of bad news. Ah, well, I hope I don't lose too many friends over this.
pi