As we continue with our throat chakra work for the Love Your WHOLE Self 2024 chakra journey, ask yourself, how often do you complain instead of doing everything in your power to effect change?
Not complaining but taking action was a recurring theme. A video clip of Vice President and hopefully future President Kamala Harris showed her describing her mother’s approach:
“If I’d ever come home complaining about anything, she wouldn’t have it. The first thing she’d say is, “Well just stop the complaining. Just tell me what you’re going to do about it.””
And in The Light We Carry, Michelle Obama shared the way her mother had listened to her as a child venting on and on for a while and then ask if she needed her to come into school and handle things or if she could herself.
It’s empowering to know we can handle things ourselves!
Sometimes, letting off a little steam is essential but we don’t want to get stuck in victim mode.
Since reading a Martha Beck column in O Magazine nearly 20 years ago, I tried her suggestion of no more complaining and it’s one of the things that transformed my life.
Beck had pointed out that when we vent, it’s like a kettle, constantly letting off steam and never actually changing anything.
Since then, I’ve done my best to go to the source of any issue and address it directly.
Obviously, am human and there are times when this doesn’t work out. Sometimes (I could go into a big ol’ moan here), even addressing issues directly does nothing but spark rage.
But we get more information than if we were to simply complain about whatever situation without even attempting to address it.
How about you?
What do you notice yourself complaining about a lot?
This isn’t for you to start judging yourself. Getting curious about what bugs you will help you understand what’s at the root of things.
Your dissatisfaction with whatever the situation could actually serve as a prompt for you to improve your life and, potentially, your wider community.
Be honest with yourself and list EVERYTHING.
What feels most pressing?
What might you actually address?
Le grá,
