Thoughts On Complaining and Finding More Peace and Personal Freedom
Last modified 6 months, 2 weeks ago.
Complaining.
We’ve all done it. I’ve done it too much, too often, in my life.
I even think it’s OK to complain a little. I think it’s just a human thing to “express dissatisfaction or annoyance about something” (Google.com).
But we can also become very attached to complaining seriously and habitually. We believe that somehow, someway, it’ll do us some good.
We can end up complaining endlessly about someone or something else, wishing that if only they or it changed, our lives would be more like we wished it would be.
I have an idea where complaining comes from, too. We were all helpless infants once. Our only way to get our needs met was to cry and whine. It’s similar to how a pet dog might beg for food. And, if we had caring parents, we got our way. Yes, we were positively reinforced! It was the only way, at the time, for an infant to communicate to its parents that it was in need. (IMHO).
But something, like complaining, that was an effective coping strategy as an infant, very well may not be a good coping strategy as an adult–or even as a teenager or child.
We can get caught up complaining anyway, though.
People may go so far as to complain to authority figures, organize groups that complain publicly, take legal action, or build an online presence that garners a big audience built off of outrage and negativity–like “cults of complaint.”
It’s all a waste of precious time, energy, and life to me.
I just want to change myself.
My goal is to avoid complaining, and change myself and the circumstances within my direct control.
I am not a psychologist or personal coach. Health & fitness is my thing. I can only offer my perspective in a respectful way. If you are interested in learning how to create more freedom in your own life that doesn’t require changing the actions of others, I recommend Harry Browne’s How I Found Freedom In an Unfree World. Yes, there are other books out there that are excellent for personal development, but as far as creating a life of personal freedom goes, that’s an excellent read.
As for myself, I do my best to become aware of when I fall into the complaining trap.
Heck, it could even be when I am driving, and upset about something happening in traffic. But my effort–and hope, is to keep doing my best to recognize it, de-reflect from it, and focus on what I can do. And perhaps, as Viktor Frankl stated in Man’s Search For Meaning, sometimes it’s just my attitude and disposition that’s within my control.
If I am living in earnest, navigating the ups and downs of life the best that I can, then I am doing my best.
With that, I can be at peace with myself.