What Would You Give Up?

A friend and I were talking yesterday about what we would give up or take up to make our lives better. We were looking at things in terms of what would make the biggest impact and be something that we could realistically take on or go without for at least several weeks.

I decided to take up exercising every day (okay, I actually started doing that again several weeks ago, so I'm hoping to continue to do that because of the many benefits of exercise), and give up complaining.

Complaining?

Yes, there may be other things that I could give up that would also benefit me: I eat a little too much chocolate, I watch a little too much T.V. (sometimes I think that any T. V. is too much when you have other goals in life!), and there are other habits to be shed. But complaining, which, to me, encompasses the spreading of negativity, rumination and gossip, carries some heavy drawbacks that I'd like to get rid of:

• Complaining keeps you stuck in 'problem mode' and inaction.

• Complaining can be a form of rumination, which carried many negative consequences.

• Complaining spreads negativity to others.

• Complaining can magnify problems, making frustrations seem more intense and chronic than they perhaps are.

• Complaining isn't a very effective route to feeling better or solving problems.

Quitting the complaining habit isn't the same as being unaware of potential problems. With the economy being what it is right now, many people have multiple problems they're facing at work, at home, and everywhere. These problems need solutions, and the stress of these challenges must be minimized and managed. But complaining about the problems, big or small, just isn't an effective solution. Cut out complaining, and you're much more likely to see the world with optimism and gratitude, I believe. So that's what I intend to do.

What about you? If you were to give up one thing that you think might be holding you back or causing you excessive stress, what would it be? Write your answers in the comments or visit the Stress Management Forum.

Related Resources:

• Quiz: Do You Ruminate Too Much?

• Letting Go of Stress and Anger

• Coping With Negative Emotions

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