Don't keep things to yourself

Some people are very talkative. When they have problems they can easily share with their close friends. To have somebody to listen to you is good enough to relieve the tension. Provided that friend is a trusted one and can keep your secret.

But there are some people that are introvert and like to keep things to themselves. Looking at them, there is no trace of problem what so ever. It's like when we shake a can drink. All the soda and bubbles just waiting to burst out. When that happen, it happen uncontrollably. Things just went berserk.

We need to let it out. Cry privately if you can. We will feel a lot better after that. Who say crying is just for men? That's why men have shorter life span than women. Find a trusted friend to share the problem. Write in blog to unleash the turmoil inside you. Writing in a blog has become a favorite way to wind down. Talk to your plant or pet. Your fish will listen silently and will not make negative remarks. Or just talk to yourself as if someone else is talking and advising you. Jog or cycle to let go the pent-up energy.

For muslims, read the Holy Qur'an. The Holy Qur'an is for everyone, muslim or non-muslim. Reading the Holy Qur'an makes us attach with Allah. We can feel that Allah is watching over us. Everything that happen, happen for a good reason. In chapter 94 Al-Insyirah verse 5 & 6 Allah says , "Verify that every hardship is followed by something good. And verily every hardship is followed by something good" (my own weak translation from Malay to English). When we flash back, we can see that a lot of good stuff comes to us after something bad has happen. A marriage broke up only to find a better partner in a new marriage. A failed business is the starting point for a better business. A difficult childhood makes us a much stronger adult.....

After knowing this two verses by heart about seven years ago, I have learn to look forward for something good that will come after something bad happen to me. Sometimes I can see it immediately after the bad incident. Sometimes the light is shed to me after months or years. Nevertheless, once that 'something good' is revealed to me after the bad incident, I become more than glad. All these good thing will never cross my path if that negative incident didn't happen.

Hope you will look forward to that spark of shining light after your eclipse. May Allah bless you.