Julie Compton shares perspectives about complaining from authors Kaia Roman, Guy Winch, Ph.D., and Cleo Wade. The purpose of griping is to tell us that something in our lives needs to change. But, a few of us get stuck in chronic complaint mode. Winch says some griping is healthy but too much can fill us with constant stress hormones. It can also infect those around us with our negativity.
We complain when we feel there is a significant gap between an expectation and reality” – Guy Winch, Ph.D.
Source: Better, April 25, 2019. Link.
Complaining is a way to realign expectations to improve our relationships; to get a satisfactory result to actually make some change that we want,” says Winch.
Going on a complaint cleanse taught Roman the importance of understanding the emotions behind her dissatisfaction.
INSIGHTS: The concept of constructive complaining is an important skill to develop individually and within working teams.