by Jim Rohn
Complaining. There's room for legitimate complaining, but if you let this deadly disease of attitude–complaining–loose, it will conquer you. Complaining can take over your life, destroy you and leave you without anything. Nobody wants to take along a complainer. Nobody wants to promote a complainer. Nobody wants to live with one. Nobody wants to be a partner of one. Nobody wants to have one around.
Complaining leaves you out of more opportunities than you can possibly imagine if you let it take over and grab you by the throat. If you don't think complaining is bad, ask the children of Israel of Old Testament fame. They are typical of us all, but their story just happened to get in the Book.
The story says children of Israel are slaves in Egypt. God performs a series of dazzling miracles and gets them out. Now they have their freedom and are heading for the Promised Land. But... the tragedy of the story—they never got there. Reason: from day one they started to complain.
They griped about the food—they had just been delivered from slavery and they are complaining about the food? They whined and cried and griped about the water. In the desert they HAD water to drink, but... it didn't taste that good? They whined and complained about the leadership... that had just delivered them from slavery? They complained that it was too hot, too cold, too far, too difficult, too rocky. They whined and cried for years—40 to be exact. Finally, God said I've had it—trip canceled!
The story says that they died in the desert and never reached the Promised Land—after all that trouble! I believe this story teaches two things:
1) Indulge in complaining long enough and you will get your future canceled—future promotions, future opportunities.
2) Even God himself can only take so much complaining.
I think you get my point. Complaining is not for the winners in life. You must focus on what you can do, not what you cannot. And you must focus on the opportunities not the difficulties. When you do this you will not only inspire yourself but you will be an example for others to follow as well.
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Thanks Pete, No complaints. If I hear any I will redirect them to the desert.
ReplyDeleteBest regards, Wild
I would love to use this for some of my employees. This is definaltely a powerful message. Thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteDeeAnne Peay
God hates it when we complain!. I first read this in the bible, I though.... "Oh my God please forgive me", now when it does not go my way, I now say, "it is well with my soul" and I meditate on Ps23. just knowing he is beside me, all has to be well,not just today, but always!
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ReplyDeleteComplaining is a mute exercise. It does not matter where it is directed, at the spouse or partner, children, parents, colleague(s), boss.... nobody wants to hear it because a) the addressed person cannot do anything to improve (e.g. the taste of water in the desert) or b) (and more likely) the addressed does not WANT to do anything about the situation. Of course most funny is if a situation arises in which the roles are reversed and suddenly the complainer is supposed to find a solution to the problem.
ReplyDelete-- Great article - Thx for sharing your thoughts