(145) Lift Your Life (all 3 Levels)
- Daniel
- Dec 7, 2018
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 26, 2023
A shoelace breaks, the sink backs up, car won’t start, and so it goes; the roof leaks, more taxes owed, and sometimes it is just overwhelming.
But overwhelmed or not, there was a time I complained about everything: the car breaking, being broke, breaking in new shoes, or no break in the cold.
If someone said, “Nice weather,” I would say, “Yeah, but it's going to rain Friday." And I am sure that more than a few people went out of their way to avoid me.
Why do some of us complain?
When something goes wrong, we usually experience a negative feeling, and complaining brings us some measure of relief, but it also brings us down (along with those around us).
If complaining is not where you want to be is a way to step up a few levels.
Level One
Stop all complaining. Right! Not one word. Gather your courage, try it for just a week, and see how you feel.
Level Two
Back when I crushed positive statements (Yeah, but it's going to rain Friday), I noticed that it often caused an awkward pause or an abrupt end to the conversation.
One day, I tried simply agreeing, Yes, it is a beautiful day. I felt an immediate lift in my mood and realized they did too, so I amped it up. When someone said, Beautiful day, isn’t it? I agreed and added, I love days like this, and tomorrow will be even better.
Not with fake enthusiasm or forced positivity but genuine words spoken quietly.
This felt so good that I began making positive statements of my own -- regularly -- and eventually became a full-fledged Yeasayer.
Level Three
In the market one day, I asked the clerk, “How’s your day?”
He quietly said, “Great. This is a good day.”
I was surprised by the lift I felt, mainly because his words were genuine and because there was nothing special going on in his life. He was simply feeling grateful. But wait!
Much has been written on the practice of gratitude, but what is coming is less than you might think. And more.
MORE - The practice of gratitude does not work without one essential element: emotion. Words alone are not enough. Words said out of habit or because of a should have no effect on our lives (e.g., giving thanks before a meal while thinking of something else).
Feeling grateful as we say the words can give us a brighter, more positive outlook; and some believe this practice is a magnet, attracting more good things into our lives.
LESS (than you might think) - What is just as effective as giving thanks for the big things is appreciating the small, everyday ones; you know, the take-for-granted little stuff that does work and does go right.
Why? According to the Harvard Medical School, gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.
If adding more gratitude to your life sounds good, consider doing it twice in the morning and again in the afternoon. It is easier to remember if you link those grateful moments to something you already do, like eating, putting on your shoes, or starting the car.
So, there you have it. From the negative depths of complaining to the heights of yea-saying and gratitude. A better life for us. And those around us.
Note - Some have tried this practice works but do not believe it works. And it did not work, because they quit too soon; persistence is the key.
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Here is a way to quickly relax that even works standing with your eyes open?
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