Just like we can choose to take the stairs, rather than the elevator, and strengthen our bodies, we can alter our thinking and create the reality we want. A new columnist on GNN-i joins us every Friday. Today we look at our results when we COMPLAIN, and Jack gives us a helpful acronym to reframe our thinking — and our complaining — so we can build the life we want.
My acronym for complain is: C.O.M.P.L.A.I.N. Creating Only More Problems Living Always in Negativity.
This acronym reveals to me the nature of my attention and how I influence my day to day living by what I focus upon. Complaining is a learned practice that uses a form of discussion to bring about sympathy from a listener. The results of my complaining ends with nothing resolved, or worse, a kind of helplessness arising out of a closing statement such as “That’s just the way life is.”
The cycle and practice of complaining usually continues with the next person you meet at another time and place.
As I began to observe myself and others complaining I became aware that we are giving attention to our present moment perception by stating only one side of a situation, in this case the negative or challenging side of the story. In time I realized that as long as I continued this cycle of complaining I would continue to resist a solution to my situation.
But what am I really resisting? The situation, or a choice to be made in that situation? Is there a choice that would resolve it, yet I avoid it, finding ease and comfort in complaining rather than make a choice to change it?
Complaining is a condition of non-action that instructs the Universe to continue to put obstacles in my path. It is a choice that forfeits my divine right to claim a better future. At first I thought others learned to take advantage of the situation, in a kind of parasitic relationship, but eventually I realized they were not taking advantage of me. I was allowing it. A parasite cannot attach itself to a host unless the host is susceptible to it.
When I find myself complaining I realize now that I have forgotten to make a choice and begun the practice of resisting the making of one. My beautifully creative mind then creates a one-sided story about why I cannot make a choice: “That’s just the way life is”. The result was I chose not to choose and fooled myself into thinking I have no choice!
Complaining is a reminder that when I choose not to choose I create only more problems, living always in negativity.
Next weeks acronym is B.L.A.M.E.
Listen to Jack’s soothing voice as he describes more powerful acronyms on his website www.sciencesofspirituality.org.
John Nickolas Barakitis is the founder of Sciences of Spirituality a project of the Congressional District Programs a 501(c)(3) non-profit company. As educators and practitioners in holistic massage therapy and Reiki, John and his wife Sona offer products and services to Inspire, Enhance and Heal through music and the spoken word. For more information visit www.sciencesofspirituality.org
Purchase the full 3-hour CD of 65 A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.S. To Inspire, Enhance and Heal