Where is the benefit in Complaining?

I'm sure everyone has encountered situations where you are listening in to your friends while they complain about their jobs, spouses, boss, kids, parents, grandparents or just about anything under the sun. You might notice that you yourself being caught up in the whirl of complains and start complaining about things as well.

Well I used to be like this, though I still do listen to others complain sometimes. But other than that, I try not to complain about anything at all. Complaining serve no purpose other than to let out the steam that has been building up inside of you. Why complain when its much more productive to just find a solution around that issue? I suppose most people, including yourself, know what you must or should do, to remedy the situation but just refuse to do so, mostly because you are afraid. Afraid that you might offend your spouse, boss, parents, etc. Afraid of the outcome that might result from it, like you might be thinking if you stood up against your boss, he might fire you in the process.

Well I must say that there are many different ways to handle a situation, no one solution is correct and the best part is there is no 'right' answer. Unlike in school, where we learn never to make mistakes. In life, if we do not make a mistake at all, we will never learn from them. Just like when you were a baby, you didn't learn to walk the first time round you stood up. You stood up, fell down and stood up again, why? What happened to our desire to make mistakes and improve yourself along the way? I digress...

Complaining about anything at all, always allow us to see the negative side of life, like how lousy my job is or I'm struck with a horrible spouse with uncontrollable children.

Why do we not see the good things that we have in our life more often and talk about them? Like being grateful that you have a roof over your heads or that you are able to fill your stomachs 3 times a day. Or grateful that your dog is there to greet you after a long tiring day to welcome you home. Grateful for your friends who stood by you when you are down. About having money in your pocket to indulge in your simple daily pleasures, like a cup of your favorite coffee.

Try it right now... Start thinking about that things that you are grateful for and notice how different you start to feel. You will start feeling good, 'warm and fuzzy' as they call it. Instead of feeling the frustration, anger or that feeling of self pity.

How many more people's day can we brighten when we are feeling good ourselves?

Key points:

• Complaining makes you focus on negative things in life.
• There are many solutions to a situation. Decide the best for yourself, and if the best of solutions make you fearful, just face it anyway.
  
• Feel grateful makes you focus on the things in life that you already have and because of it you are enjoying your life.