I recently read an article in The Age Weekend about a church in the US that launched a Stop Complaining campaign. Basically, the congregation was encouraged to be aware of how much they complain/bitch/whine for 21 days. The parameters of what constitutes a complaint were defined – being assertive to a rude shop assistant is not complaining, bitching to your friends incessantly for hours after about the rude shop assistant IS.
For every complaint/whinge made through the day, participants will swap their purple band from one hand to the other. So far, about 6 million purple bracelets have been distributed and numerous news correspondent and journalists have taken up the challenge in exchange for a good story about their daily habits.
So is not complaining possible? Is it healthy even? Is complaining a way of channeling or releasing negative energy? Or does complaining articulate negativity and passivity instead of constructive action? I noticed that some of the most positive people I have the privilege of getting to know are also the most proactive, assertive and constructive people around. The do-gooders, the go-getters. They radiate a kind of positivity and enlightenment that is irresistible. Infectious almost.
So is not complaining for 21 days possible? I believe that even if it is not wholly do-able, many who have done it mentioned that it increases self-awareness of your thoughts and words. Negativity breeds negativity. That seemed to be the take-home point.
I'm excited to find out. But one step at a time. Tomorrow I'll be helping a charitable organisation distribute flyers in the cold to frazzled office people during peak hour traffic in the CBD. Let's see how that goes first.
