"International School Bangkok front," by ISB, 2022
I complain way too much. “The bread is too burnt,” “The movie has too many 1-star reviews,” “School is so useless,” and “Why is Summer already over - we should have a longer break.” When there is a gap between assumptions and reality, complaining expresses dissatisfaction or annoyance. Complaining is a bad habit, harmful, and a waste of time. While it's true that everyone needs to vent their frustrations occasionally, some people take it to an extreme and complain far too much.
People complaining excessively do so for various reasons, such as attention-seeking tendencies. People may believe that by whining, they can get the pity or approval of others. This might be accurate in some circumstances. It's crucial to understand that complaining nonstop might have the opposite impact. It may become annoying and alienate people instead of eliciting sympathy. I have had many experiences where I am in a conversation with someone constantly complaining, which triggers me. I was at a NIKE, and one of the shirts was out of stock. A man went up to the cashier and complained that he needed that item and how NIKE was a lousy company for going out of stock. I was one of the five people in the line, and I can imagine what they were feeling, having to wait 10 minutes because the guy was complaining non-stop. The cashier even looked tired and depressed while talking to him, and it's not like the cashier was the one at fault. Restocking something can take a while, especially if it runs out quickly, like the shoe he mentioned.
Complaining can hurt your mental health. Finals are coming up, and complaining causes stress and mental health issues. According to Research from Stanford University: “complaining reduces the size of our hippocampus.” The hippocampus helps with your learning and memory. Not just complaining can hurt you; the study also found that listening to someone complain will negatively affect you. This is another reason why I think people complain too much. I’ve heard many school students complain about the work amount, the homework, and the test, which all leads to more stress and a cycle that keeps going before summative. Students will complain about why they didn’t have enough time to study even though they got the same amount of time as everyone else. The students who complain do worse than people who push forward. According to Dr. Guy Winch, people complain “ when we feel there is a significant gap between an expectation and reality,” this can be shown in schools where students who are not prepared to complain more than students who studied and understand the topic.
Complaining can be a difficult habit to break, but with some effort and practice, it is possible to stop. The first step is to develop an awareness of when you are complaining. I used to complain a lot. I would go on and on about how we didn’t have enough school breaks and how the food was disgusting in the cafeteria. But I realized that even if the food was terrible, it was much better than in some places. Once you notice how much you complain, you can replace your complaints with more positive thoughts and language. Practicing gratitude can also be helpful, as it shifts your focus to what you have rather than what you don't. I became grateful for the food I got and became thankful for the amount of education I got instead of thinking about the break timing. It can also be useful to identify any underlying issues that may be causing you to complain and address them directly. Finally, make a conscious effort to surround yourself with positive people and situations that reinforce positive behaviors and attitudes. With time and effort, you can break the habit of complaining and cultivate a more positive outlook on life.