Adding a “BUT” Turned Situation from Complaining to Resolved
I don’t normally drive my older car because it has a (new) history of wanting to die. It has been in the shop a couple of times and we can’t figure out why. However, yesterday I drove it to work to make sure the battery got enough of a workout. I had no issues going to work.
But on the way home the engine kept sputtering like it was going to quit. I hit every light. I was getting more and more agitated as my car kept getting more and more agitated.
I was afraid. At the next to last light before my home I cried out loud,
“Oh, NO! I can’t believe it, This car is going to die on me.”
I realized I was in full complaint mode.
Here I was on day 16/21 of no complaining. And now because I was complaining I was going to have to change my bracelet to the other wrist. Then in the midst of my distress I remembered how to choose the complaint that brings peace.
I added a “BUT” to my sentence. I added words of a positive solution.
“Oh, NO! I can’t believe it, This car is going to die on me.”
Then I continued speaking out loud with these words . . .
“BUT if it does die, I will be okay. I can coast to the side of the road. I have a towing package. I can call for help. This is not the worst thing that can happen. I am safe.”
And you know what? I calmed down. It was okay. And luckily the car didn’t die.
Even while stressed OUT, I really was able to go from a non-productive compliant to a solution-oriented response.
Adding that BUT turned my attitude and thinking around. It helped me with my fear. And because I was calm, I was able to find a good solution. High Five!
Your Turn . . .
- When you find yourself mid-sentence in a complaint, how do you turn that around?
Related Resources . . .
Today is Day 18 of the #Write31Days online October writing challenge. My topic is 31 Days of Fruitful Words INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING. I know I will be challenged in more ways than writing every day. If you’d like to have more fruitful words coming from your mouth, please join me from October 1-31, 2016.
Go here for the landing page which has all the posts from this series.
Go here to see what #Write31Days is all about, the categories and the bloggers who are participating.
Entry filed under: 31 Days of Writing, Main. Tags: are you a complainer, Fruitful Words, No complaining fast, solution to complaining, write31days.
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Five Blessings and No Complaints | Fruitful Words | . at .
[…] Blessing #1 – I made it through another week of not complaining. I almost lost it on Day 17 but I remembered in the knick of time to ask for what I wanted. Asking for What You Want Is Scary But It Stops Complaining. On Day 18 I was able to stop my complaining mid-sentence. Adding a “BUT” Turned Situation from Complaining to Resolved. […]
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