Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Complaint Free Is The Way For Me


Keeping the theme of the week as BEING POSITIVE, I came across this little ditty in my SHAPE magazine.


What do you think about this?



"Your thoughts create your world and your words indicate your thoughts. When you eliminate complaining from your life you will enjoy happier relationships, better health and greater prosperity. It's about redirecting your mind towards a more positive and rewarding life."


Kinda sounds like THE SECRET, if you ask me. But it is interesting to think about.

Do I complain alot?

Does my complaining affect me in a negative way? How so?

How do I feel about OTHER people who complain?


What made me take notice of this is how much complainers REALLY REALLY bother me. I feel physically repulsed by a person that constantly complains. I just experienced this in Fiji with one of my clients. I mean REALLY - how can one be negative in Fiji? But she was.

She bitched about the food.
She bitched about the sun.
She bitched about the long walk to the bathroom.
She bitched about her husband.
She even bitched about her spa treatment being TOO LONG. WTF?


She was so negative that I found myself actually hiding from her by the end of the week.


Realizing how much I try to *avoid* negative people makes me take stock in my own negativity (or hopefully LACK THERE OF). I really don't think I complain THAT much, but I have been known to drop a gripe here or there. Perhaps now that I realize how much of a negative impact this can have on my life, I will think twice before bitching about something. Because really, it solves NOTHING.


Thoughts? Gripes? Complaints? (ha ha)
Song of the day: The Ditty by Paperboy

21 comments:

Sarah said...

I totally hear you. I live with a perpetual cynic, and we've actually had big fights where I yell things like "Can't you see anything good anywhere??". People who complain all the time are exhausting and unpleasant!

E said...

I so agree with you. Excellent post!

Amy said...

I find myself being negative or complaining for the sake of entertainment. Using hyperbole as a sort of amusement. BUT I do find that sometimes it backfires and changes my energy into something negative. I'm doing much better about being positive. It's like crazy Jillian (Biggest Loser) says -- tell yourself to be positive and in a good mood. After a while, you'll believe you are!

RunnerGirl said...

Yep, I often find myself going off on a complaining rant. I try to keep it under control b/c I don't want to be a negative person but its tough to be positive all the time!

Kevin said...

I hate cold weather, red wine served too warm, and people who don't watch where they are spitting when they run.
I dont like complainers who complain a lot either, but I guess that's what I'm doing.

Anonymous said...

AAAH! I was just talking about 'Ditty' the other day and here you go mentioning it. My boyfriend claims to not remember this song.... My question is, how can one forget?

I totally engage in occasional bitch 'n' moan fests on my blog... which somehow feels okay to me, but might not represent my true persona.. I've been called 'annoyingly optimistic' more than once.

I'm with you. Positivity is where it's at.

Christine said...

oooh! I love ditty by paperboy! Also I hate negative people and choose to not surround myself by them. Its a happier world for runninduff!

Heather said...

I knew someone like that -- so draining, so negative about everything. She ran the Nike Half with me, and I vowed afterwards to distance myself from her. I don't have enough time for the people I actually like to be around -- much less people like her. Ick.

Judi said...

I used to work with people like that and it weighs you down. Best to try and keep negative people out of your life.

Unknown said...

My old roomate was the worst at complaining. GEESH. I try to not complain, or at least be negative. I am going to keep an eye on it the rest of the week now to keep myself in check. heh.

K80K said...

I am actually getting ready to take a complaint jar into work and force people to deposit money if they wish to complain. I am thinking maybe we can treat everyone to lunch one day with how much people at work complain about stuff.

Mendy said...

I know I need to watch my complaining. I seem to more than I'd prefer, but I will hear hubby complaining and think "oh the negativity", but what about me?

Good post.

Marcy said...

I dig the shirt! Most excellent post my dear! :-)

And OMFG about Paperboy! Dannngggg I haven't hear that song in a LONG time! Totally classic!

Kelly Olexa said...

I have The Ditty on my Ipod; how funny is that? Life is good. Great post!!!
;-)

peter said...

Ironic, this is a post about not being negative. But thanks for stopping by and telling me I'm not crazy!

Brianna said...

Like Sarah, I live with a cynic, too. He says that I go through life wearing a "yellow hat" to balance out his "black hat". It probably drives him crazy, but I pick his gripes apart, examining them in a more optimistic light. I think it does make a difference for him to unload with me and help him see how things aren't so bad. It also challenges him when I'm having a "black hat day" and need him to give my yellow hat a try to pull me out of the muck. The nice thing is - he's always able to do it!

Jess said...

I fall somewhere in the middle. I often use cynicism and sarcasm for humor, and I do distrust those that perpetually see the "sunny side to life" -- I mean, really, are they on drugs? But, then I agree that those who are always negative are a drag, in which case, they are probably in need of drugs.

So, yeah, bitching can be fun, humorous, and even therapeutic; however, just like too many martinis make ya feel like crap, too much bitchin' can make ya feel like poo too.

Nancy said...

I had no idea my mom was in Fiji with you.

Seriously, I work on this all the time. Not so much the complaining, but the negative thoughts and how they can color everything. I needed this post. Thanks!

Lily on the Road said...

Negative people suck the life out of you, stay away from them....there are sooo many positive people out there, they are just harder to find 'cause you never hear them complaining!

Unknown said...

The Ditty takes me back to those Etiwanda days rocking out in my mom's honda!

i am 100% with you on this post. i was at a staff meeting the other day and i swear it was just a complete BITCH session... i found myself thinking, what is WRONG with you people?? I make a conscious effort to not complain when i do have a gripe and i always feel better for it! i'm not perfect, by any means, but i try to be positive!

J~Mom said...

I cannot stand negative people. They wear you down and take over your thoughts. The more caffeine I drink the more positive I am so that is why I am still drinking it at 8 at night. LOL