So, why do we do it?
First of all, most people don’t realize how often they complain because it has become a habit and, like all habits, it tends to be so familiar that it becomes invisible. Secondly, most people feel that it’s a good conversation starter because it’s easier to find common ground by complaining. Lastly, people complain because they want validation for their beliefs.
Some might think that by complaining you are merely observing what’s going on, but complaining, like all thought patterns, is not mere observation, it’s a creative act. When you complain, you are simply reinforcing negative thoughts and, the more you complain, the more you summon your creative energies to attract the very thing you complain about. It has been said that when you complain, you are really placing your order for more of the same, or as we say in NLP, you are creating a mental map from which you perceive your ‘reality’. At the very least when you complain you’re dwelling on the negative and definitely reinforcing what you don’t want.
Complaining also keeps people from taking action. It gives excuses to procrastinate and keep from achieving goals. It’s always much easier to complain than to find a solution.
Another reason people complain is to avoid responsibility. Think about arriving at work late with the excuse that the traffic was terrible or the line at the pharmacy was extremely long or the wait at the gas pump took forever. Sure, stuff happens but, perhaps, you could have left earlier or been more prepared.
The real danger for people who are constant complainers is that it traps them in a negative reality, giving them more to complain about. The reasons for their circumstances are endless: “I never get any real breaks. I always have bad luck. Life seems totally and consistently unfair.” The complainers’ circumstances are always unfortunate and seemingly beyond their control. But this is simply not true and the reality is that their thinking strategy seriously needs an update because they have created their reality to be congruent with their thoughts.
Complaining doesn’t make one a bad person. It just puts a horrible damper on the possibility of living an exceptional life. It’s a denial of responsibility, and blame is just another way of excusing yourself from being responsible.
The NLP presupposition of Positive Intention is a extremely useful tool to interrupt the pattern of complaining.
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude… Stop complaining.” – Maya Angelou