Have you ever complained about your looks? Your weight or the health of your skin or hair, or something else that you could actually improve?
Did you then do something about it? Started training, or changed the diet, or searched for another solution?
Have you ever complained about your job? About the quantity of work, or too many working hours, or the purpose of the job itself?
Did you do something about it? Talked to your superior, asked for some changes, or searched for another job?
Have you ever complained about your salary?
Did you then ask for a raise?
Have you ever complained about the food you eat because it makes your stomach ache or it reduces your skin quality?
Did you do something about it? Changed your eating habits, stopped consuming that particular dish, found some new recipes, started cooking more or using healthier ingredients?
Have you ever complained about dirty streets and litter wherever your eyes can reach?
Did you then avoid buying a plastic bag in a supermarket?
Have you ever complained about something your superior, colleague, friend or partner had said or done?
Did you then try to see things from their perspective? Did you have a sincere conversation with them about their actions? Or did you just complain behind their back?
Have you ever complained about dirty air and smog?
Did you then choose to go on foot, by bike or by car somewhere where the car wasn’t an only option?
It is so easy to complain and to hold a grudge without taking any action.
It is easy to criticize others and blame them without knowing their side of the story.
Sometimes it is so much easier to feel bad than make an effort and change those things that make us feel bad. Our habits, jobs, food we eat, people we spend our time with.
Next time you start complaining and feeling bad, ask yourself this – do I just want to complain?
Or can I – through complaining – become aware of the things that bother me, and then search for the solution?
Yes – I complain about my looks. So, how can I improve my muscle mass? I am going to make a plan and I am going to start training again.
Yes, I complain about dirty streets and littering problem. I already try to reduce and separate the waste and I avoid buying plastic bags. I also know that I cannot change the world, so what can I do? I can encourage my friends to do the same thing, and I can try to reduce my food waste. So I am going to do that.
Some solutions to our problems will ask courage of us.
Some others will ask dedication and effort.
What do you complain about?
Find what bothers you, and then see how you can change it. Remember, you cannot change the whole world or fix global problems, but you don’t have to.
We can achieve a lot when complaining is not our goal, but an incentive to act.
What are you going to do next?
What do you choose to change?