The Hardest Challenge of All is Not with the Body
I am daring you to the ultimate challenge this November. Are you up for it?
Nah, not a marathon. This is not one of those crazy physical challenges that leave you breathless and exhausted. Nothing like that, silly! You know me better than that.
I am daring you to a challenge that is beyond the physical body. It is a challenge that tests the flexibility of our rigid mind and the fragility of our hearts. This is a challenge of words and deeds, although nothing as exciting as NaNoWriMo, but it’s a challenge that is deceptively simple and if done right, surprisingly transformative. A challenge between you and yourself, and no one else. And I argue it’s the greatest challenge of all.
I challenge you (and me) to stop complaining for a month.
Join the Stop Complaining Pledge
When does the challenge start?
Right now. Today. November 2013 is upon us so I am doing it all November long, with my book deadline looming on the 29th no less! If you are reading this later than November 1st, well, start then and go 30 days forth. Easy enough. You can join this game anytime honey. You just need to keep it up for 30 days.
Why the no complaining?
Because it makes us beautiful. It makes us whole. It helps us be true to ourselves.
And because it brings us closer to the secret desire you and I both have, whether we deny it or embrace it, we all want inner peace.
Inner peace melts away the weight of the world that you insist to carry on your shoulders. It helps you sleep deeply and soundly at night. It lets you wake up light and happy.
And complaining interrupts murders inner peace. It sets it on fire and laughs as inner peace burn to black ashes. There is no inner peace when complaining finds its sneaky ugly way into your heart. Everything turns dark and dirty because complaining spreads. And your true beautiful self has to hide behind the curtains until your ego is done complaining.
The challenge is to protect and guard inner peace, inner beauty and inner joy. The simplest way to do that is to go cold turkey on all the complaining.
What are the rules of this challenge?
Oh yes, the rules. All silent and vocal complaints count as breaking the pledge. More specific rules below:
1. No getting mad or frustrated or annoyed with YOURSELF.
2. No griping at your pet, children, spouse, friends, parents, strangers.
2. No judging others, even if they are incompetent or at fault.
3. No expressing displeasure about the weather.
4. No getting annoyed about the news.
5. No agreeing to another person’s complaint. That’s like being accessory to complaining.
6. No fussing about electronics or wifi or online apps misbehaving.
7. No griping at your pet, children, spouse, friends, parents, strangers.
8. No feeling sorry for yourself or swearing even if you stub your toe or jam your finger.
9. No complaining about your work, the stupid co-workers or the horrid boss.
10. No criticizing anything, anywhere, anytime, in any capacity.
If you forget the rules, just remember this: Just Don’t Complain!
Can’t tell if it’s a complaint? Like, it could be a valid point or something. Quick test: What would you call it if someone else did it or said it? Let your spouse, a child or the look on your pet’s face be the deciding factor. If it sounds, smells and feels like a complaint, it probably is one.
Don’t know what to do with the energy of complaining? Read the 10 ways to channel that energy.
What if you mess up and complain during the challenge?
I really don’t like to penalize myself – or you for that matter, but we need something, don’t we? Maybe. Maybe not. You can set your own penalty if you like. Let’s put the entire focus on the challenge itself. We just won’t complain.
Who inspired me for this new craziness?
My beautiful friend Sibyl Chavis is a role model of living what she preaches and she gave up complaining several years ago. Imagine going a year without complaining. This woman lives her words. I’ve never heard her complain once in all the years I’ve known her. Check out her Huffington Post video on how the complaint-free way changed her life.
Get fired up and let’s do this challenge together!
How do you join the challenge?
Copy and paste this line into the comments:
I [your name] pledge that I will not complain about anything to anyone (including myself) for the next 30 days.
The moment you sign, you are in this with me, and believe me whenI tell you, this will be the greatest challenge of all for me too. Let’s keep each other company and emerge a happier and better person for it.
Every morning before you wake up, and every night before going to bed, say your pledge as a daily affirmation reminder. Reset your mind to clear the negative thoughts and focus on the day’s challenge.
Here’s my pledge:
I, Farnoosh Brock, pledge that I will not complain about anything to anyone (including myself) for the next 30 days.
Now go and sign yours!
*** Join the Facebook Group for Complaint-Free Challenge to keep track of your progress.
Before you start your complaint-free day, first don’t forget to grab your confidence book in one single PDF guide – Get it FREE or Pay What You Like to support ProlificLiving. Next, get on the confidence journey below:
I am Farnoosh, the founder of Prolific Living. So glad you are here. My mission is to empower you to unblock your creative genius to live your dream life.