Stop Complaining

I would like to speak to you today about something we all do probably every day. Some of us more than others. Nevertheless, we all are guilty of it. And that is complaining.

Complaining is when you express your frustrations, dissatisfaction, and annoyance with something without the ability to do something about it, or without the willingness to change how you think about it, to find a solution, or to accept the situation for what it is.

Complaining many times arises out of frustrations we face when challenged with circumstances and situations that are out of our control. It also arises when our expectations are not met, in family structures, in our work environment and even in our social circles.

Zig Ziglar once said, “the more you complain about your problems, the more problems you will have to complain about.”

Pointing out that something is wrong or unfair is one thing, but to constantly complain about it without finding solutions is another. When we bring our awareness to what we dislike in our life or environment, we give ourselves the chance to reflect and find a way to make a change.  However, when all we do is complain without any forward positive movement, we are really just whining.

The kids don’t do what you asked them to do, we complain. Your husband didn’t clean the house with you, we complain. Your wife burnt dinner again, we complain. You’re stuck in traffic, we complain. The kids didn’t take out the trash, we complain! The driver in front of you is too slow, we complain. Your coworker screwed up again, we complain. Your husband went on Facebook and sent two cake emojis and one heart emoji to his ex, we complain. It’s so hard sometimes not to complain. Lol

The constant grumbling, whining, and finding fault with or in everything, can create a negative impact on yourself, your loved ones, and others. No one likes to hang around someone who constantly whines and moans. It may seem harmless to vent your frustrations, but if vocalizing your negative sentiments becomes a continual habit, and all you do is complain, it can result in some pretty harmful consequences.

Someone once said, “You cannot change the people around you, but you can change the people that you choose to be around.” –Unknown

It turns out that constant complaining will not only turn off others, but it can create chaos in other ways, too. Although it’s quite obvious that complaining can bring down your mood and the happiness of others around you, it can also have a large impact on how you function on a daily basis, and if you’re not cautious, it will take a toll on your body as well.

At the end of the day, sometimes it feels good to get your grievances off your chest, but if you’re going to express your negative sentiments, make sure you’re doing it in a productive way and with the right people.

Complaining isn’t all bad.  Occasional venting and expression of negative emotions to someone you trust about difficult situations allow us to get our concerns out into the open, and in doing so, can reduce our stress reactions. Holding onto our feelings of frustration will create unhealthy results and may stop us from identifying our problem and getting to the bottom of it. And it can also result in us exploding in anger and taking it out on others. I encourage you today to take a look at the other side of your situation for a moment, this way you can realize how blessed you really are as well. Have a great Holiday Season everyone! Thank you for your continued support!