Wednesday, November 11, 2009

There Should be a Rule


There should be a rule that you can’t complain about the things you don’t like about your life, if you are doing nothing to fix them. Imagine that I was standing outside shirtless, in the dead of winter and I started complaining about how cold it was. First, you would probably think I was crazy, but then you would most likely start giving me suggestions like, “Why don’t you put something warmer on,” or “Why don’t you go inside?” Now imagine that I just stood there freezing and continued to complain, without acting upon any of your reasonable suggestions. How long would you stand there making suggestions and listening to me complain before you came to the conclusion that I either liked freezing my bum off or just liked to hear myself complain? Since most of us don’t stand out in the freezing cold in T’s, here are some examples easier to relate to:

After reading each, ask one simple question: “What am I doing about it ?”

“I am so fat, I don’t have anything to wear and I hate the way I look”
“I’m not getting any younger, my mind and my body just aren’t the same”
“I don’t have the relationship I would like with _________”
“I want to have financial freedom”
“I need more time to do the things I want to do”
“I want a new job”
“I wish my kids were better ________________”
“I am always tired”
“I want to learn to _______________”

There are hundreds of different things that we all complain about but the one thing they all share in common, is the fact that complaining about them will do nothing to change them. Venting is a worthless release of hot air. I think in some instances we complain, in the hopes that someone will hear us and solve our problems. Or maybe give us the magic solution that we hadn’t already thought of ourselves. Many times, when are pleas go unheard, we become even more frustrated and fall into further hopelessness. The only way out, is to take action ourselves. We need to ask ourselves, “What am I, or can I do about it,” and then start.
Don’t just stand there in the cold complaining, it accomplishes nothing, makes you look crazy and just further reminds you how cold it is. Do something to change your situation. Put some warm clothes on, get inside near the fire and have a tall cup of hot chocolate. Don’t be consumed about the order in which it needs to happen, just focus on getting started. You can instead, have a tall cup of hot chocolate, get inside near the fire and put some warm clothes. You see the order doesn’t matter as much as getting started and the end result.

5 comments:

Kiki said...

Amen! Love your posts Alex!

Anonymous said...

At times I think what happens is that we know what we have to do in order to fix the problem or achieve that goal, but the solution in and of itself overwhelms us. We don't know where to begin, and in the meantime we become so frustrated that nothing is coming to fruition, that we start complaining and even criticizing others who perhaps have accomplished what we have yearned to do for so long. In the end all we end up with is feelings of resentment, jealousy and bitterness. Your right..we need to stop focusing on what lies ahead and just take a step towards getting our goals or dreams achieved. That and a daily dose of perseverance should get us to the finish line.

Thanks again Alex!

Diana Banana

Alex said...

Diana,

That was very well said, I could use a guest Daily Dumbbeller, now I know who to go to. Very nice!

Mary said...

Great post - now stop complaining about people who complain! LOL

Alex said...

If it wasn't for the complainers i wouldn't have a Daily Dumbbell to write.