The concept of not complaining is not new to me.
Studying stoics who believe complaining and venting are "useless" emotions and believing deeply in the law of attraction, I firmly believe what you focus on expands.
So why would you complain?!
It is the polar opposite of being grateful. And every day, you can read a new article about gratefulness and its powers.
It is reinforcing you… teaching you to be negative. To look for the negative in things.
I believe in this so much, and I think the title of this post, "...No Complaints…" is negative. It should be about being grateful or only focusing on the positive.
I am drawing attention to the complaining versus the positive side.
This came from T. Harv Ecker's book called "Secrets of a Millionaire Mind" and is a crossover between "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" and "The Secret," if you will.
The point is for seven days to not complain. Verbally. Or in Your Head! (Wow - now that's hard…)
Ecker says that what you focus on expands. And if you could do this challenge for just 7-days (let alone a lifetime!), you will be utterly amazed at the outcomes.
Better yet, and this is why I love Ecker's in-your-face style of writing, he says…
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE?!
I love this concept. And I love his approach to it.
When bringing awareness to my thoughts, I always consider that you can also "Start Again: as Sam Harris says in his Meditations. If you lose focus in meditation or trying not to complain throughout the week, you can stop in your tracks and start again.
That's all you can do. You can only start again, and you can't change anything except the present.
As you try to add this habit into your life, there is a big trick I have come to realize.
Add to your life. Do not take away from your life. This goes for all habits.
You can't just stop eating unhealthy food. Because then you might not be eating enough. You can not stop drinking soda or sugary juices because that's what you drink, and now you are thirsty.
There is also a psychological aspect to it that you are telling yourself that you can not have something.
"Oh no, don't tell me what I can and can't drink or eat!'
So… what do you do?
You eat vegetables. Eat your daily dose of veggies, fruits, nuts, lean meats, healthy grains, drink your water for the day… and after all of that… eat & drink as you wish.
Now, this isn't dietary advice, but you get the point.
So with this no complaints challenge, we are to focus on the positive and be grateful. Not daily, but moment to moment. See things as the glass half full.
I did this with all my might for one day - just one day, and I signed a client of my dreams, had my favorite author Dan Millman respond to a random email saying he would join my podcast, and Southwest airlines sent me $250 for a bag they damaged three months that I never thoughts I would hear back from.
Um… okay. Day 1 was fun. Let's try day two.
On day two, I awoke to a random cold email response I sent the owner of TRX, Randy Hetrick, an email asking if I could speak with him about supporting their marketing effort. I even tossed in a picture of me using a TRX in the kitchen during COVID.
He responds and asks me for meeting times. Then on my only sales call, I closed another deal!
Coincidence? Other factors?
No one will ever be able to prove this right or wrong. But here is the catch…
Who cares!!!
So give it a go!
Write in on your hands. Or an index card and keep it in your pocket.
Put it all over your work calendar for 7-days.
Focus on verbal and non-verbal thoughts and expressions.
Reflect, see what worked and what didn't.
If you fall off the wagon, just begin again… it is your only choice.
Make sure to check out my other blog post: "The Importance of Having Difficult Decisions"
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