It takes longer to complain about something that it does to take action toward a solution.
The thing about complaining is that it does not really begin or end at the complaint. It is a much longer process than that. Often, whatever feelings led up to the actual complaint have been festering for a while before coming out and, once expressed, instead of finding resolution, our negative feelings begin to reverberate throughout our life.
Sometimes, the resentment that leads to us expressing a complaint is something we live with for days, weeks, or even years before and after we have verbalized it. In addition to that, the more that we complain, the more these negative feelings begin to seep into the way that we view the world, even affecting our relationships, especially the relationships with those who we are complaining about and to whom we are complaining.
Usually, the solution to whatever problem we find the need to complain about is simple and would take little to no time to address directly and expediently. A lot of times, the solution is as easy as a conversation with the offending party, but, for whatever reason, most likely fear, we find it easier to create general conflict resonating throughout our whole life than to face the risk of specific conflict with what and who is really bothering us. The action required to solve a problem, however, is usually much easier and more expedient than a lifetime of resentment, regret, and complaining.
Holistic Budo: As it is in budo, so too it is in life. As it is in life, so too it is in budo.
Robert Van Valkenburgh is co-founder of Taikyoku Mind & Body and Kogen Dojo where he teaches Taikyoku Budo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, as well as a founding member of the Severna Park and Baltimore Holistic Chamber of Commerce.
Street art photo taken by Robert Van Valkenburgh, artist unknown unless otherwise noted.
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