There are things in life which are extremely easy. Criticizing an outfit or work of art, complaining about the service of an airline, whining about the quality of food at a restaurant; you can add your own 101 other points to this list.
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This is easy because we do not have to take responsibility for the complaints or the ensuing outcome. We need not be accurate even while making an allegation. Even a frivolous statement by an individual based on a one-off experience can be damaging for a business because in this social media driven days most people have just enough time to read a 140-character tweet and form an opinion. Few would venture to dig deeper and analyze the merit of the statement. The person or business entity which is at the receiving end of the complaint might end up spending substantial resources in fixing the dent.
Why Must We Quit Complaining?
I can come home every evening and complain about my tough day or meaningless tasks dumped on me. We can grumble about our kid's progress in school or sports. One can ceaselessly complain about the dwindling quality of cappuccino at the regular coffee shop, the traffic or the fuel efficiency of the car and even the macro-economic factors affecting inflation. Does it change anything except stating the obvious? Complaining is a passive activity. Nothing constructive comes out of it. Complaints or criticism does not change anything. It is nothing but a tranche of negative energy permeating from us and clouding our aura.
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Indeed complaints are an integral aspect of life. We must vent out our pent up feeling but solely complaining is of absolutely no help. It is an endless loop. We must have a game plan to tackle life's complaints. There are some random ones which can be ignored. We should be concerned with the ones that are repetitive and affecting us daily.
Start the Change
1. Mull over a common refrain -- people looking at a mirror and complaining about weight gain or an excessively gaunt appearance. This complaint can be repeated every time we chance upon a mirror. What is the solution? Find out the cause of the complaint. Is it you? Or is it someone else? If it is you, then the solution to the complaint is well within your control and you can act upon it. However, if the cause is external then we need a different strategy.
2. Your complaint about the seasoning on pizza is completely removed from an issue of sexual harassment or bias at your work place. Figure out the seriousness of the issue. Is it affecting your peace of mind? Is it hampering your work or personal life? Is it disturbing your physical health? If the answer to any of the questions is yes then the matter is definitely worth deliberating and analyzing the source of the issue.
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3. Let us go back to the evergreen weight gain complaint. Many people gain weight due to lack of exercise. Some have genetic factors built-in. Others might be suffering from hormonal imbalance, thyroid-related issues. Metabolism slowdown also impacts body weight and improper eating habits, food choices are known contributing factors. Medicinal side effects can also add to the concern. Thus, if a person is gaining weight, it could be any or all of these factors.
I believe in the principle of cause and effect. Everything in our life is entwined. The things we complain do not have binary solution. There are multiple causes which can lead to a particular effect. We must address the primary source of the issue and try to eliminate it.
I am a person who used to complain a lot about arbitrary things. Even the quantum of salt in a food would instigate me. With passage of time and acquiring few grey hairs, I have learned to either suck it up and quit complaining or do something proactive to sort out the matter and move on in life.
Ernest Gaines said, "Words mean nothing. Action is the only thing. Doing. That's the only thing."