Email: My wife complains a lot! What to do? (HK)
“Instead of complaining a rose bush is full of thorns, be happy the thorn bush has roses!”
Complaining is a usual bonding experience! In one study of group complaining, subjects averaged fifty expressions of dissatisfaction per hour, one complaint per minute.
Will Bowen, author of A Complaint Free World, says complaining exacerbates individual, collective problems because the quality of our thoughts, ideas creates our world.
Sometimes, people need to vent, an emotional release in a chaotic world. But, we don’t criticise, judge or curb other’s instincts, either just listen, re-assure or re-direct frame of mind.
Today, instead of relating over mutual dissatisfaction or imbalance, shift focus to things we truly appreciate, find a silver lining in the cloud. Change or positively spin topics of discussion – playfully, lovingly, compassionately.
A fully complaint-free world may not be possible. Everyone has the right to express their experiences, the way they want. But, balance can be found that turns angst into ease, dissatisfactions into gratitude, fears to reassurances, problems to solutions.
Why not try it today?