Bhanu Narsimhan’s book on Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar reminds us that when we complain, the Thathasthu (So be it) angels say ‘So be it’. When we focus on lack, we are blessed with lack and when we focus on abundance, we are blessed with abundance.   She shares an example of her grandmother practicing abundance as against lack, which is symbolised by complaints. When sugar was over at home the noble lady would say – there is so much sugar at home, let’s go and get more from the shop. 

On that note, how do I react when something goes missing from where I had left it? My passports have been cleared from my table and I am not the one who has done it. That is usually a cause for complaint. But I have caught myself to try and think of the silver lining. Anu has put them away. And that habit of hers keeps our house really neat all the time. 

Not complaining is tough when you are full of desires. The more desires I have, the more I feel hindered by others. That Singapore has a tough bike licensing regime is a complaint that rises in response to my desire to upgrade my license. 

Not complaining about someone who is complaining is how you can take this exercise to next level. 

At work it is common for people to say ‘Could be better’ to a simple ‘How are you?’  There is so much work to be done on people’s minds. Our attitude defines our health in the long run. 

When I really put myself in a position to make a difference, I come across numerous opportunities to complain. Hence the need to exercise this challenge becomes even more real. When we live in a bubble it is easy to stay unaffected. It iss when we go out there and work is when the rubber hits the road. 

This exercise is making me more aware. I realise anger is the first emotion that comes up in me prior to wanting to complain. Wow!

I may have stopped verbalising the complaints. Doesn’t mean they aren’t in the head. The next step is to look at all those things I have complained about in the past and still hold a grudge. 

What is interesting is that when people have nothing to say they moan. It is actually a release mechanism to make conversation. In the west they make it witty. In the east they whine. But it is the same either way.  

With things we want to complain about it is a matter of realising that in time it is not really going to matter.