During stressful times like this, it’s easy to complain.
Now, there is a time and a place for “venting” but as we look to settle into a temporary “new normal” we have to make sure we’re taking care of in between the ears too.
Each quarter the team and I pick one book to all read at the same time and then set a meeting to review and talk about how we’re going to implement some of the key takeaways into our business or personal lives.
A while back we picked the book called “The No Complaining Rule.”
It was a super short read, told in story format, so it was nice and quick.
The basic premise of the book is to implement a “No Complaining Rule” within your personal life and/or your work life.
Easier said than done, huh?
It’s amazing how much “mindless complaining” we do as humans.
We complain when it’s hot…we complain when it’s cold.
We complain when we’re busy…we complain when we’re bored.
We complain about traffic…we complain when someones driving fast.
You get it.
We read this book to audit ourselves, but to also help others remove some of the negativity they fill their lives with.
Today, I wanted to share with you three “No Complaining” tools and challenge you to see how you can fit them into your personal life, home life, or work life.
1. The But—> Positive Technique
This simple strategy helps you turn your complaints into positive thoughts, solutions, and actions.
It works like this.
When you realize you are comparing, you simply add the word but and then a positive thought or action. Example:
“I don’t like driving to work for an hour but I’m thankful I can drive and that I have a job.”
“I don’t like that I’m out of shape but I love feeling great so I’m going to focus on exercise and eating right.”
2. Focus on “Get To” instead of “Have To.”
This was a big one, and I have written on this before.
Too often we complain and focus on what we have to do.
We say things like “I have to go to work.” “I have to drive here.”
Instead, shift your perspective and realize it’s not about having to do anything.
You get to do things.
You get to live this life.
You get to go to work while so many are unemployed.
You get to drive in traffic while so many don’t even have a car or are too sick to travel.
Focus on what you get to do.
Focus on feeling blessed instead of stressed.
Focus on gratitude.
3. Turn complaints into solutions.
The goal is not to eliminate all complaining.
The intent is to eliminate the kind of mindless complaining that doesn’t serve a greater purpose and allow complaining that is justified and worthwhile.
Mindless complaining is negative, justified complaining is positive.
The difference is intent.
With mindless complaining, you are mindlessly focusing on problems; however, with justified complaining, you identify a problem and the complaint moves you toward a solution.
For every complaint represents an opportunity to turn a negative into a positive.
I like that the tools and book overall didn’t just have this “tough guy” mentality that you can never complain, because the title certainly gives that feeling.
However, instead, it drove home the point that we quite often complain mindlessly, and instead need to provide a solution if we’re going to complain.
Overall a lot of lessons you can hopefully apply to your personal life or work life, especially given the current events.
I hope it helped.
1% Better.
Dedicated to Your Success,
Doug Spurling