Are you a complainer? Or know someone who is always complaining! Maybe in some way we all complain... But most of the time, we are in control of the very aspect of our complaint. So, you're unhappy with your job, your weight, your significant other and yet you wake up every day and go to work, you drive up to a fast food restaurant and super-size your order, you fight with your partner to the point of tears. We all seem to know and complain about what is not good or right in our lives. Yet, do we really know what we want or how to change it? Something as simple as what would you like for your birthday? Reply: " I don't know"! Well, if you don't know, how the heck can any of us know! How about, "what would you like for dinner"? Again, I don't know. Or even worse, we recognize the issue then do the exact opposite: I'm so overweight, I have to lose weight! Not another diet, screw it let's
go for ice cream. Or my boyfriend is mistreating me so let me flood FB with romantic pictures of us. We need to start converting our complaining into changing. Let's break it down into 5 steps:
Step One: Listen to yourself! Pay really close attention to what you are putting out into the Universe. Identify your complaints and write them down. Write them all down even the trivial ones because the least serious ones will serve as practice rounds as you confront the most difficult ones.
Step Two: Prioritize your list. Separate the least challenging ones from the most overwhelming ones. Once they are separated then prioritize each list starting with the most important. Helpful hint: if any complaint on your list is life threatening then absolutely address it first. Challenging complaints can take time to resolve. So, make them top priority, take action, then be patient. Allow the process to occur as you eliminate other complaints off your list.
Step Three: For each complaint, write down your wish or solution. You may have several wishes for one complaint. Write down all wishes and solutions. As you develop your plan to convert complaints into change, you may reconsider your solution options.
Step Four: Examine your wishes and solutions then make a plan to provoke change and achieve your goals. Keep the plan simple, hone in on your skills, consider what you are willing and able to do independently and seek assistance if the plan requires support or guidance. Never be ashamed to solicit professional advice. This is your life and you are worth it!!
Step 5: Take action, baby steps or giant steps, determine your comfort level. Be brave, stay focused, and call in reinforcement. Execute your plan. No judgement just honest action. If you are seriously involved in the process then you shouldn't have any time to complain! Which is twofold since no new complaints then no new process. Congratulations... You have changed!!