@inkedodie recently posted a blog with this title, and I would be remiss if I didn't follow his instructions, as I've been subject to mental health problems all my life, as have a chunk of my loved ones. If you have had similar issues or know someone close to you that does, feel free to share your experiences here.
So, in compliance with @inkedodie 's instructions, I'll now list three things about myself that I'm proud of:
1) I've survived. I've attempted suicide a few times in my life, and have been on the fence about the subject more times than I can count. I should be dead decades, now, but through luck and support I have lived on. The combination of my mental health issues and my general world-weariness make nearly every day a struggle, yet here I am. I'm not thriving financially in the least, but I'm rich when it comes to the people I've surrounded myself with, and that has meant all the difference between life and death every time I've fallen.
2) I have empathy in an ever-darkening world. It would make my life so much easier if I didn't have it. I could treat other humans as sentient objects to be exploited for my own personal gain, and pursue my own selfish goals without care, regardless of who I left broken behind me. Lucky for me, I feel alive inside, and I want to keep it that way, regardless of the pain that comes with it. I see people that lack empathy as ravenous beasts, ready to consume whatever they can to not only go on, but simply to fatten themselves up. That's not living, not really. That's just following a program based off our most basic instincts. I want to be more than that, even if it means that I'll have less with regards to resources. I want to LIVE, and that means opening yourself up and caring for others, despite the hurt that comes with it.
3) I have a brain and I use it. Ignorance truly is bliss, as evidenced in the way I feel when I contemplate the state of the world and the various atrocities humankind has inflicted and is inflicting upon itself and the world at large. It would be easy for me to turn my head and completely give in to escapism. I don't, though, because I feel it is my duty as a concerned citizen to look upon the world and ask questions, to educate myself where possible, and to educate others when and where the opportunity arises. Those who don't educate themselves, especially in the subject of critical thinking, leave themselves open to the manipulations of anyone who would see them merely as resources to be exploited. I have no desire to become someone's slave - willing or otherwise - so I will keep my guard up through knowledge and its application.
What do I do to make others feel happy? Really, I'd have to ask around to fully answer this question, but I like to think that I can invoke laughter from time-to-time. As stated above, I also empathize with people, and I hope that helps those I talk with and highlights the fact that they matter and that they're cared for. I've helped loved ones, co-workers, and even complete strangers, and I've seen their appreciation on their faces, which gives my own life that much more meaning.
What will I work on to better myself? I've got to get my confidence up there. I've never had much, as I've been thwarted time and time again by my own health issues. Much of the time, I don't think I have much to offer my community, both offline and online. Even now, I struggle to think of how useful I can be to others. It's not a subject I've actually talked about much, not even with my previous therapists. The forging of confidence requires the courage to face the world and take big steps, though, and the world isn't built for people with issues like mine, which makes it terrifying to me.
As @inkedodie did in his blog, I ask you to do as I did: tell us three things about yourself that you're proud of, tell us how you bring happiness to the lives of others, and tell us what you will work on to make yourself better.
If you gave enough of a damn to read all this, thanks for that.
