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When persons with a psychiatric illness get to a point of basic recovery, we might ask the question, "What now?"  

I believe it is better to decide on a purpose to our lives rather than expecting a purpose to be handed to us, or thinking that we must climb a mountain to see our purpose etched on a stone tablet. It can be a major factor in achieving happiness. Doing this entails an honest assessment of our talents and interests as well as our limitations. Having a good understanding of what is required to achieve something will pave the way to succeeding at something.  

Also, focusing on the work, the tasks, and the enjoyment of what we are doing, instead of focusing on the idea that we must achieve a goal, is a good way to function. You could decide that your goal is that you want to create a profitable company, for example. You should focus on the here and now work of getting there rather than on the idea that you must have it, or that you can't be happy until you have it. Hoping for success but acknowledging that you will not necessarily get it--is realism. The point is that you are doing something constructive with your time.  

Inserting realism into our thoughts is part of the formula. On the other hand, we should not assume we can't do something just because people tell us we can't. We should not assume that because we are mentally ill we can't do anything.  

The simplest form of a company is a sole proprietorship with no employees. I know someone who has her own housecleaning business. Working for oneself rather than regular employment has a number of advantages for a disabled, yet able individual.  

For one thing, you can work at your own pace. If working at a low-level position for someone else's company, they will try to squeeze out the maximum amount of work for the wages they pay. And if you can't keep up with the pace, it's tough luck. On the other hand, if you are your own boss, you can work at a pace that suits you so long as you can satisfy most of your customers.  

Working in supported employment, in which a job has been set up that has reduced expectations because we are mentally ill, ends up being a blow to our self-esteem. When I tried such a job, I was treated as though I was retarded and dangerous.  

Rather than selling ourselves short and accepting situations in which we are presumed to be subnormal, creating our own work situation might be better. 

If starting one's own business, a home-based or outcall situation is usually best. Reading up on it, and learning what licensing is expected, what the basic expenses are, and what the legal liabilities are, could be a good preliminary step.  

Public liability insurance, if your company involves dealing with the public, is needed if you have assets that can be taken if there is a lawsuit. If you have no assets and essentially live on SSI, a lawsuit most likely will never happen. Ordinarily, if someone takes you to court, your SSI cannot be taken away.  

If the idea of self-employment doesn’t appeal to you, there are still other purposes you could choose for your life. You could go to school and become a "professional student." This is where you are becoming educated as an end in itself, without necessarily hoping it will turn into a job. You could do tutoring. I know someone who is self-employed as a tutor, and that person seems to get a lot out of it. Or, if you want to keep things more informal, tutoring could be done on a volunteer basis. I know someone else who, for a while, volunteered through the library system and taught basic literacy.  

There is more to life than taking medication and passively doing things that have been handed to you in the mental health treatment system. Despite the fact that mental health professionals may not be giving us credit as having a brain, we have a brain, and it is a shame to put it to waste. Some type of constructive activity, not necessarily with a goal of making a lot of money, can be done, and this adds purpose to life.  

You don't have to be a business tycoon. When there is reason to get out of bed every morning because there are things to be done, it is very helpful to our state of well-being, and it provides satisfaction.