Drop the habit of complaining

We all complain from time to time. But chronic complaining could hurt your reputation and professional relationships. How do you know if your complaining is getting out of hand? Here are some signs:

‘But’ is common in your vocabulary:  You are resistant and your first instinct in any situation is to find a reason to object. No matter how good things are, you still see only the bad or toss the issue round in your mind till you find the thing that is your ‘but’.

Your language is negative: Negative phrases are common with you. You think life isn’t fair and you find examples to back up this view. You think everyone is out to get you. You are regularly argumentative and persistently voice out your disagreements.

You exaggerate difficulties: You make everything seem worse than it is; you focus on spotting flaws and mistakes. You are overly sensitive and get easily offended. You thrive when and where there is controversy.   

So what can you do to stop complaining?

Understand why you complain: And the specific thing you are unhappy about rather than generalise, otherwise, you won’t be able to overcome it. 

Know what it’s costing you: Complaining is not a harmless habit. It wastes your time, drains your energy and fouls your mood. Complaining could leave you stressed and sometimes isolated because people do not like to be around someone who complains all the time.

Do something about it: Whatever you tend to complain about, decide that you will do something about it. If it’s a situation you can’t do anything about then, let it go or learn to live with it. Start small; decide not to complain for one full hour, then one full day and so on.

Keep company with the cheerful: Enlist the help of someone cheerful to remind you that there are things to be grateful for. Reflect on what makes you happy and focus on that. 

Now take action: What one thing will you stop complaining about?