Studies say that an average person could complain at least fifteen times a day. Some who are addicted to complaining could even complain thirty times a day. There is nothing wrong with complaining since most of us do it simply to release some stress. However, the problem comes in when we begin to complain about almost anything. You see, the tongue may be a small organ, but it is very powerful. What comes out of your mouth often can alter your current situation. Moreover, it can either hurt or encourage the people around you. If you believe you are someone who complains too much and are looking for a way to get rid of the bad habit, the following are certain tips you can apply to help you stop complaining and just start living.
Understand That Complaining Doesn’t Change Anything
The first step to getting rid of the bad habit of complaining is to realize that it doesn’t really change anything. In fact, the more you complain, the more your bad situation worsens. The reason is that your words are powerful enough to affect your circumstances, and the only way to turn a bad situation around is not to complain about it, but to speak positive words to it.
Recognize How Powerful Gratitude Can Be
Just as complaining has the power to worsen a bad situation, having an attitude of gratitude has the power to improve it. It all starts with having a positive attitude and then converting that positive attitude to positive words. Gratitude is powerful because it helps you focus on the good things instead of the bad. It helps you prioritize your options instantly, so that your focus is on the things that make you feel good and not on the things you are complaining about.
Take Time to Meditate and Count Your Blessings
Meditation is an excellent way to get rid of the bad habit of complaining. It’s a powerful tool that lets you focus on the things you want to achieve. Every time you are tempted to complain about something, try closing your eyes and focus on the results that you desire. When you are meditating on something, you are concentrating your thoughts to it, causing it to expand, leaving no room for the things you don’t want to enter your mind. Aside from simply meditating, try focusing on the things that you already have as well. For instance, when you’re tempted to complain about how your single friends get to travel all they want and you don’t because you’re a mom now who has to take care of the kids, be grateful that you have been blessed with a happy family.
Accept the Fact that You Are Living in an Imperfect World
The world we are living in is simply imperfect. It’s just impossible to get all you want while you are here on earth. Once you accept that reality, you will slowly stop complaining about how bad life could be and just start letting go. Someone once said that our blessings in life are like water flowing from a garden hose. When we complain and worry a lot, we are actually holding on the hose too tight, preventing blessings from coming out. The moment we realize that we have no control of the things going on around us and let go, the blessings will pour out to us in abundance.
Find an Opportunity to Make a Positive Impact
Finally, perhaps the most effective way to stop complaining and start living is to find an opportunity to contribute to your community in a positive way. When you spend your energy being kind and helping others, there will be no room for you to complain. You are also nourishing a positive attitude by finding ways to be a catalyst of change rather than being someone who just keeps on complaining.
If you’ve been living a life of complaint for many years now, don’t expect yourself to change overnight. The key is to be patient with yourself. Take it one step at a time, and eventually, you will find yourself becoming more confident and moving in self-assurance.
A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted