{"id":839,"date":"2010-08-08T23:44:00","date_gmt":"2010-08-08T23:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.convergingzone.com\/ricciardelli\/challenge-no-complaining-for-7-days-by-robert-watkins\/"},"modified":"2010-08-08T23:44:00","modified_gmt":"2010-08-08T23:44:00","slug":"challenge-no-complaining-for-7-days-by-robert-watkins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/robertricciardelli\/ricciardelli\/challenge-no-complaining-for-7-days-by-robert-watkins\/","title":{"rendered":"Challenge: No Complaining For 7 Days! by Robert Watkins"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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\n Complaining is draining. <\/span><\/p>\n

High cost of gas. Incompetent colleagues. Pushy clients. Lazy teenagers. Uninspired spouses. Ungrateful employees. Inflexible airlines. The objects of our disaffection may vary, but complaining about life is always in season \u2014 even though it\u2019s usually a futile exercise. People spend such vast amounts of time complaining, in fact, that I have come up with name for it: \u201cBMW mode\u201d \u2014 short for \u201cbelly-aching, moaning, and whining.\u201d<\/p>\n

I use to think people complained because they had a lot of problems. But I have come to realize that they have problems because they complain.\u00a0 But there is hope.<\/p>\n

Robert Kegan, a professor at Harvard\u2019s Graduate School of Education, has spent 15 years studying why people complain and have found that complaints can actually be the seeds for individual change.\u00a0 Kegan suggests turning the \u201clanguage of complaint\u201d into the \u201clanguage of commitment\u201d. He writes that behind every complaint is an idea or a value that a person is committed to. Otherwise, why be upset? For example, a person who complains that his potential client is a jerk might be committed to the idea of having a relationship with that client that is based on respect and trust. And once that person stops thinking of themselves as a complainer and start thinking of themselves as someone who is committed to something, that sets the stage for them to solve their problem. That happens not by dismissing the complaint but by finding the commitment behind it.<\/p>\n

I used to complain about everything. My underpaying job. My seat at church. The house I lived in. The lack of money. What I didn\u2019t know that each time I complained to God about something, I expressed my unwillingness to be thankful for what God was trying to do in my life. And, complaining always pushed me further away from my goals. Here\u2019s what I learned: If something can be changed, work to change it. If it cannot, why worry, be upset, and complain? <\/p>\n

So for the next seven days, let\u2019s change our language of complaining into a language of commitment. Get out of BMW mode by monitoring your words. If a complain is about to come out of your month such as \u201cI dislike my situation\u201d, change to \u201cI thank God for His favor to promote me quickly\u201d. After seven days, not only will your attitude about life change, but it will change the people around you.

<\/span><\/p>\n

A popular conference speaker in great demand,\u00a0Robert\u00a0is\u00a0known for his\u00a0innovative presentations,\u00a0solid content, and practical application, spiced with the right amount of humor. Robert leaves his congregations and audiences ready to take action!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He\u00a0launched Robert Watkins Ministries<\/a> to teach churches how to experience\u00a0financial and entrepreneurial freedom.<\/span><\/span> <\/div>\n

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Robert served in the United States\u00a0Army<\/b> and graduated from West Georgia University.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>He\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0founded\u00a0Conquer Worldwide<\/a><\/b>, which has mentored and educated\u00a0thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs, professionals and business owners.\u00a0 He also launched<\/span> Kings & Priests International<\/a> in 2001, which has\u00a0trained thousands of Christian leaders for financial freedom,\u00a0 leadership development and business success.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He then\u00a0<\/span><\/span>founded Young Leaders Unlimited<\/b>, a character-development program for teenagers.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/div>\n
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Robert also\u00a0received an honorary doctorate degree<\/b> in business and theology\u00a0and has spoken a many\u00a0higher learning institutions including Harvard School of Business, Emory Business School and West Georgia University to name a few.\u00a0\u00a0He has written several best-selling books and programs including Be Your Own Boss<\/i> and How To Hear From God<\/i> the the upcoming book Never Chase a Paycheck Again<\/i>.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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With all of Robert\u2019s successes, his greatest joy is his family.\u00a0 Married for 17 years<\/b> to Evelyn Watkins; they are raising two beautiful daughters.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Complaining is draining. High cost of gas. Incompetent colleagues. Pushy clients. Lazy teenagers. Uninspired spouses. Ungrateful employees. Inflexible airlines. The objects of our disaffection may vary, but complaining about life is always in season \u2014 even though it\u2019s usually a futile exercise. People spend such vast amounts of time complaining, in fact, that I have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1596,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ricciardelli"],"yoast_head":"\nChallenge: No Complaining For 7 Days! by Robert Watkins<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Complaining is draining. High cost of gas. Incompetent colleagues. Pushy clients. Lazy teenagers. Uninspired spouses. Ungrateful employees. 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