Not getting entangled in messy things is the highest level of sobriety for adults.
The most foolish thing you can do in life is to dwell on trivial matters, trapping yourself in negative emotions and wasting your time. Every second you fight with trivial matters is a waste of time that should be spent living well. Letting go of trivial matters is letting go of yourself.
Trivial matters in life are like chewing gum stuck to your clothes; the more you pick at it, the stickier it gets, the more you get caught up in it, the more upset you become. It might be an argument with a vendor at the market, a colleague's gossip at work, a business deal that fell through, or a family argument that wasn't resolved. These things are clearly insignificant, yet some people hold onto them, tossing and turning in bed at night, their minds replaying these events like a movie, getting angrier and angrier, unable to sleep, and ultimately working themselves to exhaustion.
We often think that getting entangled in trivial matters is about standing up for ourselves, about not wanting to be taken advantage of, but in reality, it's not standing up for ourselves, it's just making things difficult for ourselves. It's like accidentally stepping into a mud puddle while walking. Your shoes get dirty, and if you insist on squatting there cursing the puddle and the uneven road, refusing to move on, you'll not only fail to clean your shoes but also delay your journey and miss the scenery along the way. The bad thing has already happened, like stepping into a mud puddle. No matter how much you dwell on it, complain, or get angry, you won't change the fact; instead, you'll trap yourself in negative emotions, unable to extricate yourself.
Truly wise people never get entangled in bad situations. They know when to cut their losses and let go of the past. Letting go isn't about feigning amnesia or pretending it didn't happen; it's about acknowledging the facts, turning away, and focusing your time and energy on more meaningful things.
In life, many people easily fall into these misconceptions: When things go wrong at work, instead of quickly finding ways to remedy the situation, they retreat into a corner, anxious and blaming themselves, repeatedly dwelling on where they went wrong. The more they think, the more panicked they become, missing the best opportunity to make amends. When hurt in a relationship, instead of learning to let go, they repeatedly recall past happiness, agonizing over why the other person didn't love them, trapping themselves in memories and unable to move on, missing out on the right person. When conflicts arise, instead of communicating to resolve them, they engage in a power struggle, neither willing to back down, escalating small issues into big ones, damaging relationships and ruining their mood.
But have you ever considered that when things go wrong at work, admitting mistakes promptly and making amends is far more appreciated than stubbornly clinging to pride and avoiding the problem? When hurt in a relationship, using that time to improve yourself—go to the gym, read, travel—you'll find yourself becoming a better person, naturally attracting better people. When conflicts arise, taking a step back and proactively reconciling not only resolves the conflict but also fosters a more harmonious relationship.
Our hearts are only so big; if they're filled with bad things, they can't hold anything good; if they're full of negative emotions, they can't hold any sunshine. If your heart is filled with too much garbage, your steps will inevitably be heavy. To travel far and easily on this train of life, you must learn to clear the garbage from your heart in a timely manner—let go of what needs to be let go, and turn the page on what needs to be turned.
Those people who make you angry, those things that bother you, those past events that make you regretful—they are all passersby in your life, not worth wasting too much time and energy dwelling on. Just like when it rains, you can't stand still in the rain just because your clothes got wet yesterday, refusing to use an umbrella or move forward. Yesterday's rain has stopped, yesterday's bad things are in the past. Instead of letting past setbacks affect your mood today, let go of the past and embrace the present.
You must know that there are no wasted steps in life, and no bad experiences are in vain. All experiences are nutrients for growth. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. What matters isn't how many bad things you encounter, but how you face them.
Don't get entangled in trivial matters, don't argue with unworthy people, and don't let yesterday's troubles affect today's life. Learn to let go, learn to forgive, learn to cut your losses in time, and focus your time and energy on yourself, on the people around you, and on things that are worthwhile.
Eat well, sleep well, work well, and live well. Empty your mind to make room for more beauty; slow down your pace to see the scenery along the way; and maintain a peaceful mindset to live a relaxed and carefree life.
For the rest of your life, may you be a clear-headed person, not dwelling on the past, not anxious about the future, not brooding over trivial matters, and not clinging to bad people. Let go of what should be let go, cherish what should be cherished, live each day at your own pace, and live the life you want.