Maria Fatima Reyes
Does anything constructive or positive come out of complaining?
Of course, the answer is no. But let’s face it: Complaining comes naturally to most of us.
Sometimes, we don’t even realize we’re doing it.
Classy people, however, never slip into these regular bouts of negativity.
Don’t get me wrong, classy people know when to speak up and express their opinions and suggestions, especially when things are not right.
But for them, complaining is not the end goal. They’re never chronic venters.
Instead of moaning and groaning about something, they take action. They do something proactive to change their situation.
If you’re curious about the things that classy people never complain about, read on!
You may learn a thing or two about how classy people focus on what they can do to make things better.
Let’s get started!
1. Personal setbacks
There’s no easy way to go about it. Setbacks are heartbreaking.
If you’ve ever worked extremely hard towards a goal and experienced a massive setback, you know how hard it can be to get back on your feet.
It’s easy to get trapped in the downward spiral of complaining: “Why am I not good enough?” or “Why can’t I do it?”
Here’s the deal: It takes a classy person to turn setbacks into comebacks.
You see, classy people don’t see the need to burden others with their setbacks. They don’t use them as an excuse to gain attention.
They approach their defeats and failures with a growth mindset. They take time to reflect on what went wrong and take positive steps to do better next time.
2. Work-related problems
Everyone’s got a couple of work-related gripes. Even the smallest workplace issues can add up and make us feel stressed, or worse, dissatisfied in our jobs.
Some issues are easier to let go of than others. Feeling tired and have to go to work?
Yes, you may be tired but you tell yourself that you’re going to accomplish a lot for the day.
But what if the issue is already affecting your peace of mind and work life? What do you do about it?
The thing is, it can be healthy to vent about your workplace frustrations.
But classy people never launch a barrage of complaints — online or offline — about their colleagues or their workplace.
They analyze the source of the issue and take it up with the people concerned. They assert themselves while staying respectful.
3. Inconveniences
Picture the following scenarios:
- Weather that’s too hot or too cold
- Traffic
- A long wait in line
- A delayed flight
- Waking up on the first day of the workweek
How do these ‘inconveniences’ make you feel? Do they make you want to complain in vain?
If you’re a classy person, you understand that some things are just out of your control. Instead of whining all day, you learn to accept and appreciate what is, as it is.
You reframe your complaints into something positive. That dreaded commute? A classy person would turn it into something pleasant by reading a book or listening to music.
Having an awful day because it’s too windy? A classy person would find ways to make the situation more bearable.
4. Small things
“Don’t sweat the small stuff” is easier said than done. More often than not, even the smallest, most mundane hassles can take a toll as well.
Classy people take life’s small slights with a shrug. They know that freaking out over minor annoyances will only make things worse. They choose to focus on the bigger picture.
Did your favorite local coffee shop mess up your latter order? Were you served bad food?
Yes, these small things can be very upsetting. But classy people know how to gracefully navigate these situations and express their displeasure without blowing up.
You won’t find them making a scene over minor issues. They always remain polite and calm.
5. Health issues
Here’s a sad reality: There’s so much shame in our societies around aging and our bodies.
Think about this for a minute: When was the last time you looked in a mirror and complained about white hair or fine lines and wrinkles?
How about obsessing over a number on a weighing scale?
For classy people, aging is a natural process that they embrace with grace and dignity.
They understand that while they can’t control getting older, there are smart choices they can make to keep their body tuned up and their mind tuned in.
And as for their body size? Classy people reject the toxic cycle of judgment surrounding it.
They focus on taking care of their health and feeling good about themselves.
6. Money
Matters of money and debt are stressful, to say the least. Most of us will face financial woes at some point and venting to someone can help us feel better.
But we shouldn’t let our anxieties and complaints over our financial situation eat away at our happiness and well-being.
Are you constantly worried that you’ll lose your money at any given moment? Do you feel that you don’t have the skills and resources to achieve financial freedom?
If you seek advice from classy people, they’ll tell you that complaining will not get you on the right path to financial success.
You see, classy people focus on building a healthy relationship with money. They take steps to be better at budgeting, saving, and investing.
7. The past
“What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. Don’t complain.” – Maya Angelou
If there’s one thing that classy people won’t ever do, it’s this: Become a victim of their self-centered pity party.
They know that none of us can change what happened in the past. Complaining about things that have gone wrong won’t make them any better.
Instead of fixating on negativity, classy people own up to their choices, accept the consequences of their decisions, and fix the problem when possible.
They never dwell on the past and get stuck doing nothing. They try to find a silver lining.
They spend their time altering their mindsets, learning from their mistakes, and moving forward.
8. Unexpected events
We can never really know what life has in store for us. And despite our best efforts, things won’t always go as planned.
Sometimes, a person or situation comes by chance and changes everything. Sometimes, you see something that makes you question your life choices. More often than not, you experience disappointment and rejection.
Do you treat an unexpected or surprising happening as a distraction or irritation? Do you find yourself making a fuss about it so much that it keeps you from getting on with your life?
Or do you welcome the unexpected and find opportunity in the difficulty?
Classy people are always the latter. They believe that life’s twists and turns will always lead them to possibilities.
They’ll figure out ways to overcome challenges no matter what. They stay grounded and focus on the aspects of life where they can make a difference.
9. Other people’s success
We’ve all had our fair share of jealousy and envy.
There are moments when we feel we’re not measuring up in life because we can’t compete with the success of our family members, friends, or co-workers.
Here’s the kicker: If you don’t stop a jealous thought in its tracks, it can lead to bitterness and resentment.
You may end up crying about your life and commenting on what other people are doing with their life.
Classy people set themselves apart by managing their envy without losing control. They know that nothing good comes from trying to tear others down.
They know that time is limited, so they don’t waste every minute resenting someone else’s success.
They don’t hate — they celebrate other people’s success and are genuinely happy for them.
10. Other people’s opinions
By now, you know that people will always have something to say about who you are and what you do. What you do with those opinions is entirely up to you.
Do you complain about how you always fall short of other people’s expectations? Do you become a slave to what other people want?
Classy people don’t live their lives based on other people’s opinions or terms. Sure, they understand that everyone has different points of view.
They handle criticism in stride and they use feedback as an opportunity to learn and grow.
But they don’t let the opinions of others sway them from their own beliefs or values.
They work towards building a strong sense of self-worth. They don’t seek validation from others.
11. Other people’s mistakes
Classy people are never the type to point out other people’s faults and complain about people behind their backs.
That’s because they understand that everyone makes mistakes and that everyone should be given a chance to try again.
Instead of lashing out at all the things that went wrong, classy people provide constructive criticism.
They cultivate an open, honest, and feedback-rich culture where everyone feels empowered to engage in joint problem-solving.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day, classy people know that people are more powerful than they realize.
That’s why they never choose to complain in vain.
They either accept the problem as it is and look for the good in it, or change the situation by taking action.
