The gold in this article is: Deliberately cultivating the ability to counter a downward spiral

I'm glad to see that you found ways to be better instead of bitter.

It is easier to fall into a pit than to be pulled out of it. I remember getting really mad at my dad once when I was having a "why-me?" pity party. He said, "Why not you?" I learned that if I stopped with the poor me attitude, I could either turn that situation around, or at least find something else to do and be productive. Nothing good ever comes of "why me?"