9 Steps To Stop Complaining And Be Happier

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Constant complaining can be a drag in any kind of relationship, so if you’re one of these people or are dealing with one, here are ways to stop complaining in its tracks.

RELATED: 11 Ways To Live A Better, Happier Life

  1. Why Complaining Too Much Can Be Bad for You
  2. How to Stop Yourself From Complaining 
  3. How to Deal With People Who Complain A Lot 

9 Ways You on How to Stop Complaining

Why Complaining Too Much Can Be Bad for You

Even the happiest people in the world complain from time to time. Sometimes, you complain without even realizing it.

Constantly whining about everything is rarely productive. It drains the energy of the people on the receiving end of it and strains your relationship with them.

Why do adults complain so much? It’s much easier to complain instead of finding a way to address the situation.

When everything that can go wrong does do wrong, griping about it is the easiest option.

However, when you challenge your thinking and try to see things from another perspective, you can ditch these negative feelings and shift to problem-solving mode.

How to Stop Yourself From Complaining 

1. Give Yourself Room to Vent Occasionally

Stopping complaining doesn’t mean ignoring your negative thoughts either. Hiding things under the rug can add up quickly and take a toll on your mental and physical health.

If you’re going through a rough patch, have a conversation with a family member or a close friend. You can also seek help from a professional therapist if needed.

Negative thoughts and feelings are nothing to be ashamed of.

2. Change Your Thinking Patterns

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Your brain tends to be biassed towards negativity. Because of this, shifting to a more positive mindset requires a lot of practice.

When you catch yourself thinking something negative towards someone or something, train yourself to say something positive instead. Enlist your most cheerful friend to help you see the positive side of any situation and stop your complaining in its tracks.

3. Do Some Yoga

Your monkey mind races in various directions every second. Practicing yoga and meditation keeps you centered and helps control your mind and body.

Yoga is a great way to relax, get some exercise, and practice mindfulness. It focuses on your breathing and movement, allowing you to stay in the present moment.

4. Practice Gratitude

Start a gratitude journal and make a list of even the smallest things you’re grateful for every day. Even just stopping and enumerating all the wonderful things in your life is enough to put the petty complaints to rest.

5. Accept Your Role in the Cycle

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Complaining is a passive act that solves nothing. If something bothers you, solve the problem, or accept if you can’t do anything about it. This frees up your mind and leaves room for other things that matter.

RELATED: 4 Simple Rules To Finding Happiness In Life

6. Discover What Makes You Happy

Sometimes, you know what this is. It could be the things you love doing or friends you enjoy being around with.

Other times, it requires some reflection and addressing to understand what genuinely makes you happy.

Know what you gripe about the most and try to change the situation to something you’re happier living with. For example, if you keep complaining about your job, ask yourself if it’s time to move on to a new one.

How to Deal With People Who Complain A Lot 

7. If They Don’t Want to Change, Be the Change

It’s also tough to be on the other side of it. How do you deal with someone who keeps complaining?

Whenever you find yourself in the middle of another complaint session, speak up to break the cycle, or keep quiet and let them do their thing.

If this is a frequent occurrence and they’re not willing to make the necessary changes even if you’ve expressed you’re uncomfortable hearing their complaints, you could be dealing with toxic people. These types of people drag you down with them and it’s in your best interest to distance yourself or even cut ties with them.

8. Be Less Judgmental

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People often complain about other people because they measure others against their standards. When you stop judging people without understanding their perspective, you learn to relax and complain less.

Before you rant about the poor service you got in a restaurant, put yourself in the service staff’s position for a moment. You don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes or what other things your server is going through.

9. Practice Self Care

Don’t forget to take some time for yourself. Stress and other activities can take over your life and break even the most positive people.

Go see that movie you’ve been dying to see, play your favorite sport, and do whatever things that recharge your batteries. It can lift your spirits and shift your state of mind for the better.

The best way to stop complaining boils down to answering one question: would you rather complain or work on your personal happiness? Choose to be kind and focus on the brighter side of life.

What do you do to stop complaining? Do you have any positive affirmations when the urge to complain comes on? Let us know in the comments below.

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