I'm not complaining--really, I'm not

[urbpan]

I don't usually do New Years Resolutions, but this year I want to resolve to stop complaining. Winter will not be the easiest time to do this, since I hate winter weather so much. It'll be a challenge right out of the gate.

As I shoveled snow until I felt bad this morning (only took a half hour) I was thinking about complaints: what constitutes a complaint? If you state a fact ("it took us almost eleven hours to drive to Long Island in a snowstorm") is that a complaint? Or is the intention of the statement what makes it a complaint?

I used to be very aggravated by my coworkers complaining at my last job. My belief was that the complaint didn't accomplish anything. If there is something that can be done about it, then do it. If not, then shut up and stop making everyone around you feel negative. Maybe it's the negative energy that makes a complaint what it is. Perhaps instead of resolving to stop complaining, I should resolve to have a more positive outlook.

Any thoughts?

Comments

[urb-banal.livejournal.com]

I try this approach when I have an internal rant: Try to express it in three five word sentences. It's almost impossible but the excercise really cuts down of the whinning aspect and makes one focus on what is the real issue --if there is one.

When practicing zen formally, don't ignore things that come up over and over, but don't react to them either (hense formal practice) when we get up and finish our sitting and go on to a day to day, either realize it is just noise or come up with what needs to be done, even if it is difficult or impossible at this time.

(I find being overly cheerful is almost as annoying as being overly critical but I don't think you mean that...)