In all fairness to Will Bowen, I really should include an excerpt of his book, "A Complaint-Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted."
If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain. --Maya AngelouIn your hands you hold the secret to transforming your life. Big words? Yes, but I’ve seen it work for many, many people. I’ve read their e-mails and letters and taken their phone calls. People have used the simple concept of putting a purple silicone bracelet on their wrist and then switching from wrist to wrist until they have managed to go 21 consecutive days without complaining, criticizing, or gossiping. In so doing, they have formed a new habit. By becoming conscious of and, thereby, changing their words, they have changed their thoughts and begun to create their lives by design. People just like you have shared stories with me of chronic pain relieved, relationships healed, careers improved, and having become an overall happier person. ….
It’s no accident that you have picked up this book [Will, your book arrived at my door via UPS. I wouldn’t have picked it up]. You have answered your soul’s call to stop being part of the problem and to become part of the solution. You can change the world by simply becoming an example of positive change. You can bear the torch for a bright future for our children by taking this challenge and staying with it, however long it takes, until you succeed. You can be a healing cell in the body of humanity.
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If I didn't complain for 21 days, my house would be a mess and my household would go wild, husband would drink his life away and my kids would be on the loose, my job would drive me crazy!! I couldn't see if I held it all in for 21 days I would go insane or end up in a hospital.
i am the one that usually keeps the peace but even i need a break and when i speak my mind and need help, everyone freaks out and does not know what to do. people verbally abuse me and that is okay to do but when i speak out, i am always the one in the wrong. we have had a very bad year and need financial help. i have been seeking it every way i can but it never seems to be enough. it is like trying to put a band aid on an avalanche. i need some smiles in my life - i have had enough of the gray skies. life is never easy i know but at times mine seems worse than every sad movie ever written.
Before I complain to anyone ,I think to myself" there has to be someone out there that is worse off than me " which makes my complaint so trivial.... it works every time .....
Tom I agree with most of what you said, but a bracelet reminder to heighten awareness doesn't necessarily mean that you aren't reading the bible enough. It means that you are acknowledging your vulnerability to the temptation of complaining as "All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God." I believe that increasing our awareness and looking to the Lord for change through confession, repentence and faith is what results in respoonding to the Word. But, you are correct in saying that if we put our time and energy into refreshing and renewing our minds and spirits through the Word, complaining (or at least, chronic complaining) should not be a major issue in our life.
I also agree with the reader who quoted Philipians regarding the apostle Paul's exhortation to "be content in all situations".
To the person who doesn't understand Evangelical Christians, try just to experience reading the truth of God's Word, not thinking about people who you may not understand or agree with, but about God and His truth.
I hope that all receive a blessing as I have from reading Therese's insightful blogs and her down to earth sharing with us. Thanks, Therese for being real and reaching out to us once again!
There are other ways to get things straight without complaining - My mom complains about everything and things get done quicker when she chills out a little. I think it's awesome that people are trying to make known how much an impact complaining has. Complaining really gets nothing done but make people aggravated. Karen, your life wouldn't go crazy, consider other ways of handling the things around the house. Be calm about what goes on in your life - I know it's probably difficult, but try it - you and the other people in the household will probably be in such a better mood and you guys will probably get along so much better :) It works for me - I have yet to get in an argument with my fiancee - we never complain about things, and if a conflict arises, we get through it with a smile on our face and offer a hand, and everybody's always so much happier!
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