Not Complaining

Noticing

It's day two of the not complaining challenge I've set for myself.

It isn't easy.

I am catching myself about to complain and re arranging the words to change it from a complaint to an observation.

For example we had snow again today. I like the snow. I don't like being cold. As I was off to volunteer in a cold church hall I made sure I was dressed for the weather.

It would be easy to moan about the cold and snow. Us Brits are very good about complaining about the weather. We talk about the weather a lot.

As I'm half Norwegian I think I'm genetically programmed to like the snow and understand that there's no such thing as the wrong sort of weather. Just the wrong choice of clothes.

And as I am practicing pausing before I speak, to check I'm not complaining, I realise that what I have to do is re frame what I want to say.

Agree that it's cold without complaining about it, remark about the blue skies and how the light this morning was amazing.

I did catch myself a couple of times today about to launch into a full on moan about something and I just said out loud, nope, I'm not going there. I'm not going to complain. I'm on a not complaining challenge. And reframed the conversation.

I've also identified that complaining is my default. Looking for something that's wrong. And when you're with other people it's easy to be dragged into their negativity. Or drag them into yours.

Notice it's cold. Remark on the weather. Just don't complain about it.

Practice the pause. Reflect before responding.

And wrap up warm.