Informative

How to Stop Complaining?

Some see it as a half-glass full. Some see it as half glass empty. Very few observe the smudges on the glass. They don’t particularly like the temperature of the water, nor do they like the taste of water. They fear that the glass has not been cleaned properly and they might get sick from it. They begin to think, why does everything terrible happen to them? Why does everyone undermine them? These people come under the category of over-complainers.

People with a negative mindset are difficult and tiresome to deal with. But people who complain a lot bring everyone down along with them. A couple of years in lockdown and isolation have worsened things, and many of us have turned into constant complainers over the period.

There are several ways by which we can give a positive spin to the adverse incidents that happen to us, and spirituality helps us find that much-needed silver lining. In this blog, we will take a look at how we can stop complaining with the help of spirituality.

Effects of constant complaining on our subconscious

Let’s face it, everyone complains. An ordinary person complains about fifteen to thirty times a day. Most of us prefer to share our problems with someone, and once we vent with someone, we feel much better. But few of us have been addicted to sharing this negativity with others.

Hippocampus is the center of the brain where memories are stored. This same center is responsible for creative problem-solving. In a research study, scientists from Stanford University observed that over-complaining reduces the size of the hippocampus, hampering the problem-solving capacity and memories of the brain.

When we complain, it signals to the body that we are in an unpleasant situation. This triggers a hormone called cortisol, which creates a fight or flight response in us. Higher cortisol levels lead to heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, stroke, and obesity.

Repeated complaining causes the brain to get addicted to negativity. Even hanging out with the people who complain too much can have devastating effects. Our brains are wired in such a way that we can experience what others are experiencing. Understanding those feelings, enhances our understanding of what our friends are sharing, causing the same mental and physical problems a complainer faces.

Choice: whenever you open your mouth for a complaint, think about the alternative. Would you be complaining, or instead, you would choose to be happy? Focusing on the positive, and choosing peace. It’s your choice and no one else’s.

Self-care: Busy life can often be overwhelming and could elevate our stress levels. It’s vital to take time out from your busy schedule for your hobbies, family, exercise, and relaxation to avoid burnout. This will energize you and will help you to change your perspective.

What makes you happy? Are you complaining too much about your job? Or your relationship? Or about your house? Maybe it’s time for a change. One must find what makes them happy and fulfilling. List down your complaints, rank them with the ones you repeat most, and see if you can do something about them to make it better.

Responsibility: If something is bothering you, it’s your responsibility to take any action and change it. Maybe you are wasting your time complaining instead of doing something about it. If the situation is beyond your control, you should accept it and focus on something else.

Gratitude: Every day, list down the things you are grateful for in a gratitude journal. As you start expressing gratitude, it strengthens your relationships. Acquire a few gratitude rituals, like saying grace before the meal. Once you are aware of the blessings in your everyday life you take for granted, you will start to savor them instead of complaining over the things that are not happening with you or for the things you don’t have.

Managing expectations: Often, expectations lead to disappointments, which could be a significant reason to complain. We often tend to complain about others because we think that they are not up to our standards. Putting yourself in their shoes might give you an empathetic view of others.

A healthy way of venting: It’s okay to choose the right channel from time to time. We all go through tough times, and if we have someone to share those problems with, it becomes easy for us. You can share your feelings with your family, family members, or a therapist, without feeling any shame.

There are many great options to vent out your feelings. Like crying, boxing, writing, speaking, exercising, or through creative art, we can vent out our frustrations. Mantra chanting, paired with deep breathing, can help calm the nerves and help you gain a third-person perspective in difficult situations where you feel cornered.

The most powerful tool to reduce complaining is to meditate. Spending some time in stillness has a profound effect on reducing the negative energies around you. Breathing, focusing, and just being alone with yourselves grants a new perspective to see the world. You will see that by practicing meditation for enough duration, what used to bother you, will not bother you so much or bother you at all.

Meditation takes time to recharge, focus inwards, and know yourself in a more profound sense. It’s about knowing your abilities, knowing the things you can change, and it’s also about recognizing the things on which you do not have any control whatsoever. Meditation is a reset button, which helps you to have a fresh perspective and a new start.

A sure way of stopping complaining goes through a step-by-step process of observing, acknowledging, and losing judgment. Meditation opens up your mind to this process, making it easy to accept things the way they are.

The root cause behind your complaining nature is the negativities surrounding you. Divine mother Bagalamukhi has the power of removing negativities and obstacles from your lives. Next time you sit for the meditation, wear yellow clothes and light a lamp in front of your prayer room. Closing your eyes, chant the following Mantra:

 ‘Om Halreem Namah’

This Mantra is a Beej (seed) Mantra, belonging to Maa Bagalamukhi, which will protect you from the pessimism, despair, and darkness around you. This Mantra will help you deepen your meditation, recharging your body, house, and life with a more incredible positive energy. Divine Mother Bagalamukhi will aid you in fighting illness and negativity within you.

Lighting a Ghee (clarified) butter lamp will help you attract positive vibrations, and an oil lamp will repel the negative vibrations from your surroundings. Ringing bells and blowing a conch shell after the sunset cancels the negative energies present in the house. Burning camphor along with a couple of cloves and spreading the smoke in every corner of the house will attract the Divine elements in your home.   

With meditating, and Mantra chanting, one can invoke the Divine within, cleansing the subconscious and can get rid of the negative emotions, which could be the root cause behind our complaints.

Even though there is plenty of stuff available on how to stop complaining and bring positivity in life, it is highly recommended that one practice these meditation practices and Mantra chanting under the supervision of an expert. 

 We hope this blog helped you to gain insight on how to stop complaining. To stay connected and to receive information about spirituality, please subscribe to our mailing list. In case of any queries, please write to us at info@chamundaswamiji.com.

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