Surprisingly, I have managed to remain complaint-free in my blogging absence. I haven't suddenly turned bright sider in the last 10 days -- I've just managed to keep my mouth shut about the nagging annoyances and everyday mini-dramas that normally get me going. (For example, I have managed to NOT tell everyone I know the story of the epic showdown between myself and the snarky grocery store cashier last weekend. I'm beginning to think I'm some kind of enfant terrible of the grocery store world -- it always seems to be where I run into trouble.)
Despite my success in limiting my complaints, there hasn't been a corresponding positive surge in my overall outlook. No warm fuzzies live here. In fact, the opposite has been true. My outlook is about as bad as it ever has been. And I've begun to question the wisdom of my endeavor. I know, I know: I'm like the person who stops eating carbs for two days and gets pissed when I haven't lost five pounds already then binges on cupcakes because it's just no use. (No, no reason why I picked that example. Carry on.) A few people have expressed doubts about the usefulness of limiting complaints, and I'm beginning to feel like I should join their ranks. (OK, RETURN to their ranks...) The general rule of thought is that limiting complaining is akin to limiting your feelings, which only leads to internalizing them and creating more problems for yourself. Or that complaining is really only a manifestation of underlying unhappiness about other aspects of your life. I generally agree with both arguments. But I also think that there is some value in limiting the manifestation of negative thoughts in order to create more positivity.
What are your thoughts? Do you think trying to cut out complaining is a worthwhile effort? Why or why not?
1. I managed to NOT eat Arby's on the way home from the gym tonight!
2. I actually WENT to the gym tonight!
3. It was a beautiful, sunny day out today. And it's still February.
I see both points, really. I don't think internalizing everything is a good thing because it can potentially compromise your authenticity, and give you hard attacks besides. BUT I also see the merits in limiting the amount of negativity you put "out there." There's a part of me that buys into some of that the love you take is equal to the love you make mentality. So, maybe, what we do is find a balance. People who whine all the time are fucking annoying, as are people who are always shitting out rainbows and sunbeams. Bitch and moan when you just can't take it anymore so that you are getting some vent time--and try to be positive and a little less cynical sometimes. Cynicism can really take the magic out of life--and there is still a little of that, imo.
ReplyDelete-Storm
Ahem. Heart attacks. Heart.
ReplyDeleteI know. But so. so good.
ReplyDeleteStormye: Absolutely agree.