The CBS Sunday Morning television show of March 23, 2008 had an interesting piece about a Kansas City church which is evangelizing the idea that people need to quit complaining. Rev. Will Bowen incorporates this message into his sermons and publicly recognizes church members who go 21 days without complaining. He has a stated goal of a complaint-free world.
On the surface this sounds like a great idea. Who wouldn't like to hear fewer complaints? And don't we take ourselves to task when we catch ourselves complaining?
But consider for a moment where we humans would be if noone ever complained. There would be no social progress because no dissatisfaction would be expressed about the status quo. There would be no new inventions, for nobody would be searching for solutions if there were no complaints about the way things work, or about the inability to do things better.
Businesses would never strive for better products and services because, without complaints, their perception would be that all that they currently offer is just fine with the consuming public. Political candidates and parties would not be able to offer alternatives. After all, noone would be complaining about the current state of affairs, so there would be no perceived need for political change.
And on, and on...
Yes, too much complaining, done too often, is annoying. But complaints are not inherently bad. Complaints arise from dissatisfaction, and dissatisfaction is the progenitor of progress.
Rather than create an 11th commandment "Thou shall not complain." wouldn't it be much better and effective to say, "Thou shall not complain unless thou can offer a viable solution." Or, how about, "Thou shall not complain unless thou can offer two good reasons why the complaint may not be justifed." Here's a good one: "Thou shall not complain about people, only situations." Perhaps best of all might be, "Thou shall not complain incessantly. Thou must offer two benedictions of praise or blessing for every complaint uttered."
We need complaints and complainers if we are ever to make any progress, right any wrongs, or achieve any dreams. But we need to temper our complaining with a little practicality, common sense, and recognition and praise that things are as good as they are in spite of great obstacles!
For more information on a complaint free world, visit http://www.acomplaintfreeworld.org/.
The pessimist complains about the wind; The optimist expects it to change; And the realist adjusts the sails. - William Arthur Ward
......................................................................
You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses. - Ziggy
On the surface this sounds like a great idea. Who wouldn't like to hear fewer complaints? And don't we take ourselves to task when we catch ourselves complaining?
But consider for a moment where we humans would be if noone ever complained. There would be no social progress because no dissatisfaction would be expressed about the status quo. There would be no new inventions, for nobody would be searching for solutions if there were no complaints about the way things work, or about the inability to do things better.
Businesses would never strive for better products and services because, without complaints, their perception would be that all that they currently offer is just fine with the consuming public. Political candidates and parties would not be able to offer alternatives. After all, noone would be complaining about the current state of affairs, so there would be no perceived need for political change.
And on, and on...
Yes, too much complaining, done too often, is annoying. But complaints are not inherently bad. Complaints arise from dissatisfaction, and dissatisfaction is the progenitor of progress.
Rather than create an 11th commandment "Thou shall not complain." wouldn't it be much better and effective to say, "Thou shall not complain unless thou can offer a viable solution." Or, how about, "Thou shall not complain unless thou can offer two good reasons why the complaint may not be justifed." Here's a good one: "Thou shall not complain about people, only situations." Perhaps best of all might be, "Thou shall not complain incessantly. Thou must offer two benedictions of praise or blessing for every complaint uttered."
We need complaints and complainers if we are ever to make any progress, right any wrongs, or achieve any dreams. But we need to temper our complaining with a little practicality, common sense, and recognition and praise that things are as good as they are in spite of great obstacles!
For more information on a complaint free world, visit http://www.acomplaintfreeworld.org/.
The pessimist complains about the wind; The optimist expects it to change; And the realist adjusts the sails. - William Arthur Ward
......................................................................
You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses. - Ziggy
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