2022 has been a very hectic year. Many beautiful memories have been made, many lessons were learnt. It was overall, a very good year. Ofcourse, life isn't perfect, so I did have moments where I was not doing as well as I should. However, I don't want to let that determine how my 2022 went. I realise that focusing on what went well, really lifts your mood. Let's be honest here, what do we get out of feeling sorry for ourselves? Does the problem really get solved? You've answered my question, dwelling on sadness does not solve the problem but it helps release emotion. I personally believe we should have a balance. Venting can end in relief as long as it's not done for too long. I would say it's best to vent for a bit, take a breath and think about how to solve the problem.
I remember reading in the Bagavat Gita (which I haven't finished), “the nonpermanent appearance of happiness & distress, & their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance & disappearance of winter & summer seasons. They arise from sense perception & one must learn to tolerate them”. I'll be honest, it's easier said than done, but riding the storm until the sea calms down is worth it, you would grow stronger. The more you think about how to get out of the storm safely, the faster you'll get out of it. I tried it several times last year, that is probably why the good moments outweighed the bad.
I can't lie, there were times I didn't see myself coming out of the storm but eventually I did with time. The more I tried to think more positively the easier it became to enjoy life.
Just remember that when you're an adult, you are in control of your life and therefore you have control over your happiness. Once you give yourself that control, the good and bad will be easier to manage.
Love,
Akshi