There seems to be an epidemic affecting our society today. It breeds itself between innocent and unsuspecting peoples in the most seemingly innocuous of places. It’s happening in the vegetable section at the local grocery store, in the parent pick up line at our schools, in the waiting rooms at our doctors offices, and even in our places of worship. This epidemic is becoming so widespread that in many cases, and to the untrained eye, it is perceived to be normal. What is this danger of which I speak, you may be wondering? It is an epidemic called: complaining. 

That’s right! Complaining has become a huge problem in our culture. Sometimes it seems that we don’t know what to talk about if we aren’t complaining about the weather, or the rate of service, or the lack of service; or in turn, commiserating the complaints of others as they voice their disdain about the weather, or the rate of service, or the lack of service. 

It has become so severe that many times, in a social setting, we find ourselves sitting in silence until the next thought of something to complain about comes to the forefront.

Can you imagine that? We are actually LOOKING for things to complain about so that we have something to say to another person! 

Now, this may seem like just an easy way to join in what we consider an innocent banter with others in the parent pick up queue, or while picking up groceries, or while waiting to see the Doctor. It may seem to be the easiest way to relate to others in what is just meant to be a few moments of dialogue as you quickly mutter “oh it’s just miserably hot isn’t it?” and then continue on into the fruit section of your shopping list. The problem is that when you set your vibration at “complain” over and over and over again, you start to attract in and notice more and more circumstances to complain about. 

What you give your attention to is what you see more of in your life experience. When you give so much attention to what you perceive to be a negative situation, so much so that you actually give voice to it, then you set your frequency to that negative circumstance time and time again! 

Why not praising the things that we love instead of bashing the things that we hate? 

Next time you’re in the Doctor’s waiting room and someone complains to you about the amount of time it’s taking (even if you agree with them) try shifting the vibration of the conversation by noticing something you like.  Instead of matching their energy with an agreement in complaint, try saying something like “Oh, but they do have so many great magazines that I can catch up on reading!”

Shifting the way we talk about our circumstances to a more positive slant brings more opportunities for better, more joyous and happy experiences to come our way.