Instead of complaining, try this

It’s quite easy to complain about all the things, feel oh-so-sorry for ourselves, and simmer in a funk of despair. But you know what I find to be way more helpful?

Take out a pen and paper and turn all those complaints into your most desired outcomes.

For example, maybe you’re having a hard time with your job.
What is the ideal outcome for this situation? Write that down as if it already happened.

Maybe you’re having a hard time eating healthier.
Imagine yourself eating healthy every day. Now write down how that feels and how your life has changed since eating really healthy.

When you do this, really get into character and write down as many details as possible. Pretend the problem has been solved, the thing has been done, the conflict resolved, the house sold, the relationship mended, the move made, the health concern all cleared up, the house cleaned, the legal matter put to rest.

Look at all your challenges from the other side of them. And write about them from that perspective. This will change your energy, change how you feel, revitalize you, develop insight, and help spark creative solutions to your current challenges.

What I'm saying is, take those challenges and flip them on their heads.

Complaining keeps us stuck. Visualizing the outcomes we most want keeps us moving forward in the desired direction. 

I do this on my porch every Sunday morning with a cup of green tea and my journal. I think of my challenges du jour, put on my imagination cap, and write down all my desired outcomes as if they already happened. I don’t worry about how logical or likely these things are to happen. And I don’t write down how they happened. I just pretend the outcomes are exactly as I want them and write about them from that place. I really get into it and have fun with it. I look forward to my Sunday “future play” journaling sessions all week long.

None of us know how things will turn out, so we might as well visualize the outcome we want most. If nothing else, I always feel like a weight has been lifted after doing this. I also feel motivated to keep moving forward with my plans and goals, even if they are challenging.

Try it out and see what you think.

Molly