21 Day Challenge

Could you imagine a world that was free of complaining? I mean, a world in which instead of complaining about things, we stopped and thought about the good things in our lives and worked to change those things we didn’t find beneficial. How much more powerful would you be if you could live a complaint free life? Most of us complain a lot more than we think. As a trainer, I hear it all the time … and I do it all the time as well.

We all know that complaining and gossiping are “bad” and most of us would like to rid ourselves of these bad habits. But how?

A client told me about Will Bowen's concept and book “A Complaint Free World,” and I was immediately intrigued. One man had decided to create a habit out of NOT complaining – and not just complaining – of not gossiping or criticizing as well. He challenged himself to 21 days – the amount of time that is said to make a said activity habitual. The concept is simple:

1.You first make the decision to live a complaint free life (this can be anything really).
2.Place a band on one wrist.
3.When you catch yourself complaining, you simply take the band off, put it on your opposite wrist, and your 21 day challenge starts over – that’s right, it starts back at day 1.

Most people find that this process takes several months to complete – some a year or more. But all agree that this is a life changing process. Simply taking the time to think about this process changes the way one sees the world. Of course, there’s a bit more to that and I’m paraphrasing the story and the process, but you get the idea.

At Conditioning Specialists, we challenge ourselves to be 1% better every day, in order to avoid complacency, develop new ideas, and step outside of the comfort zone. Going 21 days without complaining, gossiping, or criticizing only seems appropriate in the quest to be 1% better every day. So we are taking this challenge on with full force and inviting YOU to do the same.

We’ve decided to design our own bands – “1% Better Every Day” – after reading blogs of people that have gone through the challenge in the past. Many of them found the process to be so life changing that they decided to take on other 21 day challenges after they completed the complaint and gossip free challenge. The options are endless, but we’re starting with the original and moving forward.

Simply put on one of our “1% Better Every Day” bracelets, and stop complaining, gossiping, and criticizing. That's it. And every time you catch yourself doing it (verbally), switch your bracelet to the other wrist, and begin your 21 day count all over again. Recognize the way you feel. Are your relationships stronger? Do you still have as much to talk about? Does dinner taste better? Do you laugh harder? We have created a safe, and private, place to write about the difficulties you may find throughout this challenge as well as the peace you encounter – all entries can be anonymous and allow you to get encouragement and feedback from other participants.

Let's add some positivity to those who surround us and let them do the same to others. Challenge your friends, your family members, and your co-workers to get involved; slowly as we each improve our own conscious minds and outward energy, the world will catch on, and it, too, will be one percent better each and every day!

Order your band here!

“Constant complaint is the poorest sort of pay for all the comforts we enjoy”
 Benjamin Franklin

“As selfishness and complaint pervert and cloud the mind, so love with its joy clears and sharpens the vision”
 Helen Keller