Are you a cistern or a canal?

Today during church our pastor asked a very vital question. When we have problems we tend to hole ourselves up like water in a cistern. We hold everything in and don't share with others. If we are a canal we allow our trials to comfort others by comfort that flows from God to us and then on to comfort others. Many times I want to selfishly be a cistern but I know I need to be a canal of free flowing comfort and grace from the hand of God.