Grousing or Grateful?
Ever stop to really take note of how many times you express thanks vs. how many times you complain? If the complaining about the bad stuff is far outweighing appreciation of the good, it might be time for a tune up – or it might just mean you need to move away from the glass-half-empty mentality.
We all know that people are much more likely to send an angry e-mail or letter to complain than send a thank-you or note of appreciation. We are far more likely to yell, “I’m gonna write a letter to that company to tell them their customer service stinks!” than we are to say, “I can’t wait to write a letter about that nice customer service rep today!”
How can you be more aware of how much you complain? Start keeping track! Is there an app for that? Should be! Your grateful-tracker would allow you to make a quick note of something you appreciate during the day – as well as those things you whined or moaned about. End of the day you could get a “How grateful are you” or “How miserable are you” score.
I think it would be a real eye-opener for a lot of people because sometimes we just get addicted to complaining. Nothing is the way we want it. People just need to do better at making us happy!
“Oh Lord It’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in ev-e-ry way.” (Mac Davis song lyric)
That’s the refrain my friend says when we realize we have both been knocking everyone else. We laugh, and it puts the brakes on.
Here’s a challenge for anyone who thought, “That’s me” when reading about lots of complaining. Keep track of your complaints for a few days – use a little notebook or a notepad in your iPhone or Blackberry. After a few days, start consciously recognizing what, if you weren’t nitpicking every little thing, you would be utterly grateful for.
These can be simple things: the orange tree in my backyard makes delicious juice; my friend remembered my birthday; someone smiled at me today and made me feel a little better; I am healthy; a friend texted me an invite to lunch; my dog is finally potty trained; I have a job. Most important: I haven’t had a drink or a drug today!
Make it a habit to counter every complaint with a thought about something you appreciate.
