Quitting the complaining committee
Originally appeared online in the teen series Trending - October 10, 2023
Obnoxiously loud sighs and “Ughs!” filled the hallway as my friends and I trudged to our next class. It was only 8:30 in the morning, and we had already effortlessly produced a record-breaking number of complaints about school, the weather, people—and school again.
This was a daily ritual. I embraced complaining because it seemed like an easy way of connecting with others, since common grievances were easy to find. But this practice took a toll on my mental well-being and amplified the stress I felt about my life.
One day, my mom heard me complaining and asked if I had anything positive going on. Her question surprised me—and also made me think of this from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy: “To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings” (p. vii). I realized that my contribution to my friend group’s “complaining committee” was actually undermining my trust in God to bless my life. I was relying on complaints and drama to sustain me and help me make connections rather than understanding that God leads and sustains me.
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