What's a venting fast?

On the surface, it's a simple thing. Here are the instructions:

1. For a period of time, say a week or a month, stop complaining aloud about anything, to anybody.
2. When the urge to fuss arises, vent on paper. Start with the words I'm upset about. Then describe whatever's bothering you.
3. Think of at least one thing you can do to actually change the frustrating situation. Write it down.
   
   If you can't think of any positive action steps, simply continue to resist venting out loud. Eventually, your frustration will increase until you think, I'm so upset I just want to…! Write down what you want to do.
4. Do it. Divorce the guy, cuss in front of your fundamentalist sister, put off lunching with the passive-aggressive "friend" until the end of time.

If you think that a venting fast requires willpower, you're half right. After a few whine-free days, you'll find that it also requires courage—possibly more than you've ever used. To understand why anyone would put themselves through a venting fast, it helps to know a little about the psychological dynamics of complaint.

Martha Beck's Anti-Complain Campaign continues…