Quit Complaining

Life won't go your way all the time. In fact, we're in a constant state of flux between good and, for lack of a better word, "bad" times.

This state of flux is designed to help us grow into the kind of human beings we can be, to help us understand how we fit into the larger scheme of things, and to prevent our minds and bodies from declining in a state of inertia.

Economic cycles for example, with their booms and downturns, are remarkably consistent, even with our ostensible understanding of the financial markets. Recessionary times, like other "bad" times are a fact of life. They can be unpleasant and disappointing, and for many of us these days, utterly crushing, but they are an essential part of life.

Without them, we would become complacent and slothful, success and love wouldn't fill our hearts with as much joy, and there would be no push towards improving ourselves.

However, when circumstances take twists and turns we can't predict, we often feel discouraged. And we feel an urge to complain. Some people feel it's a right. The so-called logic is 'If the world is treating me unkindly, why shouldn't I make some noise about it?"

Well, the "noise" may release some tension initially, but complaining doesn't solve anything. besides, it produces a negative mindset. It forces us to unwittingly dwell on what's wrong in our lives instead of focusing on what we can change or do to make things right. When complaining becomes a part of you, you're inviting a lot of negative energy into your life.

When something goes differently than we had planned or when something that's difficult pops up unexpectedly, we should allow ourselves to feel the confusion, anger, or whatever other emotion comes along as a result.

But once you have vented, prevent yourself from dwelling on the thing that caused the negative emotion. Quit complaining. When you complain, you tell several people over and over about what went wrong. Your mind is focused on the horrible thing. You bring others down by your complaining. And you bring yourself down.

So after venting, allow yourself to pick up the pieces and see where you can go from where you are. What can you do to make things better? How can you respond so that meeting your main priority is still your focus? Think about things that have gone right in your life. Appreciate what you have been able to achieve so far.

So if life is dealing you all the wrong cards at the moment, go ahead and vent, but quite complaining. You will be in a much better position to handle things the next time they don't go your way. You'll soon notice how this deepens your appreciation for life and helps to maintain a positive outlook.

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Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd