Nurses’ No-Complaining Challenge
“There is no way to happiness – happiness is the way.”
– Thich Nhat Hanh
A couple of years ago I conducted an Empowered Nurses Boot Camp. One of the challenges we undertook in that camp was to avoid any complaining. When we complain, we attract more complaints. How can you possibly be happy if you are complaining or in an environment where the people around you are complaining?
I was not surprised to hear that when nurses became conscious of the amount of complaining going on in their environment as well as how much they, themselves, do, they were stunned.
Therefore, I now throw down a gauntlet to challenge you and other nurses to a 7-day period of no complaining! I learned of this from T. Harv Eker. I would like to offer you the same task and to take it day-by-day.
DAY 1 – Focus on no complaining, blaming, or justifying at all today. Every time you find yourself starting to complain about something, just stop yourself. Get really conscious when you are complaining, blaming, or justifying. When you hear others doing any of those three things, remove yourself from the situation.
DAY 2 – Observe others complaining. You will be surprised how rampant complaining is in nursing activities. Take note of about what they are complaining. Many times, there is actually nothing that can be done about a situation. One can simply accept the circumstances and move on or choose to come up with solutions.
DAY 3 – Be aware of any negative thoughts that come up throughout the day. When you are harboring negative thoughts, that leads to unhappiness. Remember, you have a right to be happy. It is a way of being and it’s an inside job. Things outside of you should not affect your level of happiness.
DAY 4 – Watch what you say in the form of complaints, note how many times you have that thought and actually verbalize it. If you complain, what do you think you are creating in your life?
DAY 5 – Turn any negatives you are experiencing during the day into positives. This way you get to focus on what you want rather than on what you don’t want.
DAY 6 – For the entire day, use only positive words. When you use positive words, you feel positive. It affects your happiness and things happen for a reason to support you when you are positive and optimistic.
DAY 7 – Express gratitude for all the blessings in your life. I start every day B.I.G.! Begin In Gratitude! Gratitude sets how I feel each day and when I begin in gratitude, my feelings are affected (but it comes from inside), setting my day on the right course.
So, it’s up to you on what you decide to make yourself feel better. What do you believe makes you feel better about yourself? Complaining all day or being happy and grateful? The choice is all up to you.
