What Happens If You Do This for 48 Hours?

This happens through a process called neuroplasticity, where repeated negative thoughts strengthen neural pathways, making it easier to default to pessimism. This is governed by Hebb's Law: Neurons that fire together, wire together. Over time, this creates a habit of focusing on problems rather than solutions, reducing your ability to think clearly and make good decisions.

Complaining is not a strategy. Eckhart Tolle reminds us, “To complain is always nonacceptance of what is. It invariably carries an unconscious negative charge. When you complain, you make yourself into a victim. Change the situation by taking action, speak out if possible, leave, or accept it. All else is madness.”

Consider this:

Chronic complaining shrinks your hippocampus, a brain region critical for memory, learning, and problem-solving. Research shows that frequent complaining, or even listening to complaints for over 30 minutes can cause physical damage to this area—similar to early signs seen in Alzheimer’s disease.
Complaining triggers the release of cortisol, your body’s primary stress hormone. Elevated cortisol levels over time impairs immunity, disrupts sleep, raises blood pressure, increases risks of heart disease and obesity, and contributes to anxiety and depression.
Negativity also impacts your life beyond your brain. It reduces life satisfaction, weakens relationships (people tend to avoid chronic complainers), lowers your productivity, and can create a self-reinforcing cycle of stress and poor mental health.

Complaining is something that we all do. Most of us complain at least once during a typical conversation. Here's a question: How many times have you complained today? Probably a lot. Over time, complaining can become as effortless as breathing. And, it often seems justified.

Try to go 48 hours without complaining. Not even once. No eye-rolls. No sighing. No grumbling. It sounds easy, until you try it.

Before you start, make a list of the usual suspects: traffic, politics, money, family, work, sports, "them", your body, responsibilities, your past and future. Remember, complaining trains your brain to look for what's wrong. So, do a pre-emptive strike with your list. Carry the list with you. Review a few times a day.

When we complain our brain asks, "What's the problem." When we stop complaining our brain starts to ask, "What can, or should, I do about this?"

48 hours. No complaints. The changes?

You start to notice your words.
You notice lessons.
You start appreciating.
Gratitude grows.
You pile up small wins.
You stop reacting and start responding.
Problems feel less heavy.
Stress drops.
People enjoy being around you.
Your energy shifts.
Your patience grows.
Your conversations are calmer.
Awareness grows.

48 magical hours. And yes, the world will still be a mess, things will not be perfect, people will disappoint, things will go wrong, and stupidity will often abound. But, you will be different. And, the people around you will be different.

48 hours. If you slip (and you probably will), start again. It took me multiple attempts. When I eventually succeeded I noticed how much complaining had been holding me back. You will too. And we're not going back.

Thanks for reading. You are a genius!

This article was first published in Terry Small's Brain Bulletin newsletter.

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