The Art of Complaining|

Theodore Roosevelt once said,"Comparison is the thief of joy". It is not often that I am so profoundly impacted by such a simple statement.

This past season of my life-purchasing a home, starting a new job and working through difficult life chapters, has been soul inspiring. Often I am confounded by life's intricacies and how complicated life and relationships can sometimes appear.

One thing I have learnt about myself is that I complain. And not in obvious sort of way. I do not always state how I feel, but rather internally manifest my feelings in my actions. It has become unmissable in a sense. I see it everywhere now. I see that it has become a part of the tapestry of our culture. It is actually socially acceptable to complain. We are prompted to complain because we always have a audience to listen to us.

When this realization came to me, it scared me. Not because of everyone else, but because I had allowed myself to become so willingly engulfed in it.

I am not sitting here and writing this to impose any sense of superiority, but rather enlightening you to what I have so vividly experienced.

We do complain.
We complain when we don't get the job we applied for.
We complain about the weather--I did this morning!
We complain about how people don't understand us or give us a chance to be heard.
We complain when someone gets something we felt entitled to.

What I have learned, is that there are three types of complainers. And this realization helps me to improve these habits within myself.

The Chronic Complainer

This is the person who knows nothing different than seeing the glass half empty.They seek out people who will listen to them gripe about all the things in their lives that they cannot control or they are dissatisfied with. The interesting thing about the chronic complainer is that they do not care to have any resolution in their lives. They are not actively seeking clarity. They want to complain because it gives them a strange sort of satisfaction.

The Circumvent Complainer

This is the person who creatively seeks ways to complain. They don't quite come out and say things vocally, but they manifest things through their actions. They are short with people, easily irritated and not interested in changing their circumstances. They enjoy their misery.

The Changing Complainer

This is the person who acknowledges their shortcomings.They see their inconsistencies and inability to see the silver lining. With that being said, they realize that change is not linear and that is takes time,consistency and effort.They are aware of their ability to complain, but also to change.

This is an ongoing lesson for me. To realize this within myself is the start of a healthy relationship with negative thinking.

The crazy thing for me that changed was my viewpoint of complaining; in both my thoughts and approach.I started to see things I had not seen before.

I started to see myself in a different light. I realized that sometimes the most obvious blessings in your life are right in front of you. I know that may sounds cliche, but once you are made aware, you will see what I mean.

So here is my challenge to you.

Shift your perspective.
Acknowledge your needless complaining.
And start to acknowledge all the wonderful things in your life.
You will change. Trust me.