My apologies for the brief absence. Absolute madness reigns supreme here, but I cannot complain.
Which brings me to the point of this post.
I’m issuing a challenge to my dear readers, and it is this: for the next 24 hours, make your best attempt not to complain about anything, and not to criticize anyone.
Do not complain.
Do not criticize.
For 24 hours.
If you fall short, simply make mental (or in my case, physical) note of it, and endeavor to improve. See how little you can complain or criticize in a 24 hour period.
I make this challenge for several reasons: first, I’m doing it myself (since this morning) and it’s killing me. When I’m in a mood, I could nit-pick the Sistine Chapel ceiling. I can criticize anyone or anything, often with justification. But that’s easy: people are human and the world is imperfect.
So what’s to be gained by criticizing or complaining? Nothing.
And there is the possibility of gain, as well: we can begin to take responsibility for things that are not right–or the best they can be–in our lives and in the world. We can get to work and improve them, or we can acknowledge and accept them.
All without complaining. All with criticizing.
The things that are wrong with other people are usually not things we can change, unless the other people in question are our young children. Even then it’s 50/50.
The things that are wrong with the world are sometimes things we can change, but often they are beyond our control.
The wisdom to know the difference, as the ancient prayer articulates, is where our real challenge lies.
If we stop complaining and criticizing, we have more energy to focus on what we can do to make things better. We can also, perhaps, get closer to happiness through acceptance.
Please know: I’m suffering as I embark upon this challenge. Part of the reason I’m asking you to join me is that, well, misery loves company.
Oh, yeah, and maybe we’ll make the world a better place, one less complaint at a time.
- BGT