A long time ago, I joined a “complaint free world” group. We had pretty purple bracelets that we wore. Whenever, we would find ourselves complaining about something, we would switch the bracelet to the other wrist. The goal was to go 28 days without changing the bracelet. I am ashamed to admit that it took me DAYS to go 28 mins not to mention 28 days. (Which I never did reach)
On this journey towards 28 days without complaining,
I learned a lot about the four typical phases of learning:
1. Unconscious incompetence
Before I began I didn’t think that I complain that much, so 28 days without complaining should be relatively easy.
2. Conscious competence
After a while I found out that I had to change my wristband more often than I thought I would
3. Unconscious competence (working on this one still)
Then you will find out new ways to handle situations and learn how not to complain
4 unconscious competence
And my GOAL is that someday I won’t need the wristband anymore, because I’ve trained myself not to complain anymore
I have decided to once again begin this journey.
I am doing this because I have a friend that loved me enough
to point out what I did not see myself.
This doesn’t mean that I can’t point out if something is not right. In that case, I need to just stick to the facts. An example of this would be if I ordered a turkey sandwich and I got a ham sandwich instead I can either complain about it …”Why did you bring me Ham when I clearly ordered turkey”. Instead you could just say, I believe I ordered turkey would you mind checking that for me. This way I solve the problem and show respect for the person that made my order.
One area this really hit home to me was: No complaining also means no gossiping. Try as I can, I do fall into this sin,,, even if it was only listening to others.
I mean, you can still talk about others. But when talking about others, only say something when you can say something positive. And only say something you would also have said (in those exact words) if that person was with you in the room right now. Back to the old saying of: If you can’t say something nice about someone else, then don’t say anything After all the truth is … To notice something in someone else is the first step to recognizing this in yourself –
the first step from unconscious incompetence to conscious incompetence.
By complaining I am only making myself a victim and victims do not become winners. Just by changing my thoughts to gratitude and solutions, I can attract more of what I do want. That’s the Law of Attraction in action. You can’t control everything in life and complaining doesn’t change the situation, (boy don’t we all know this to be true).
Well, I no longer have the purple bracelet from long ago but I did just receive a Corbin’s Crew (cancer sucks) bracelet. I can’t think of a better reminder to use on my journey then this one. If anyone has the right to complain, it is this teen. Diagnosed with CA and fighting the hard battle with surgery, Chemo and radiation. I can look at my bracelet and thank God that all my complaints are minor compared to this young man. Then change my pity party to one of positive points in my life.
Anyone care to join me??
