by Olivia Jenkins
Hello there! After a brief hiatus, I am back with my weekly playlists! I can’t wait for you to hear it.
My life has been very hectic these past two weeks. With assignments piling up, commitments becoming overwhelming, and disappointments arising in every area of my life, I have been complaining an awful lot.
I often find myself rattling off complaints without thinking. Mindless complaining has become so easy in our digital world, where we can post our grievances in a split second. Social media can be liberating in the sense that it can allow us to share our creative ideas with one another. However, it is what we make of it.
Have you ever thought about whether anyone really needs to know about the cashier who accidentally dropped your carton of eggs? Does anyone really need to know that someone in your class took your unofficially official seat?
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that your thoughts don’t deserve to be heard. If you are complaining for the sake of complaining, then maybe try to evaluate why you feel the need to share your complaint. Is it something that you can change instead of wasting time texting your friends about it? Will your complaint reflect poorly on you further down the road?
I have gotten into the habit of taking a moment to pause before I hit send. Several times I find myself erasing long blocks of texts because I know that I don’t need to say those things.
Take the time to monitor the words that leave your mouth. Think about whether or not your words are absolutely necessary. In what way do they benefit you? What will these words bring to the conversation? Would you want to be friends with someone who complains all the time?
Speak words of encouragement into your own life and into the lives of those surrounding you.
I want to challenge you (and myself) this weekend to be mindful of the energy that you are giving off. The tongue is a very powerful tool. Let’s try to use it wisely.