Purple Bracelets for a Complaint Free World
July 9, 2008 by Judith Geiger
Have you heard about the purple bracelet? I was introduced to the bracelets and their meaning recently at a high school graduation ceremony. The speaker was a retired teacher who was talking to the graduating class of 2008.
As he spoke he challenged this young generation to step up and heal the planet now. He spoke about the devastation the planet was in and how it needed healing only he didn’t want them to go around complaining about it. Instead he challenged them to heal the planet by changing their thoughts. As he spoke about the environment he didn’t ask them to do specific things but rather to BE in a specific way!
A few years ago this might have been thought of as radical thinking but today a new awareness is arising around the world. “Change your thoughts and change your life” is what is being said from Wayne Dyer to your neighbor down the block. This is a way of making the world a better place to live.
Now back to the purple bracelet. It comes from a web site called “A complaint free world”. The theory is that you wear the purple bracelet on one arm for 21 days and if you complain or gossip about someone you must start over by putting the bracelet on the other hand. Your goal is to make it without a complaint for a full 21 days. Research says its takes 21 days to form a new habit.
At first glance I thought this would be very easy. After all I have been working on just this sort of thing for years. I put on the purple bracelet and smiled at the wonderful feeling it evoked in me. I must say the feeling did not last long when I yelled at the dog for almost tripping me as I entered the room. My husband looked at me as I moved the bracelet to my other hand.
As the days moved forward I would last longer each time. But if I had a slip my husband would give me one of his looks that meant you need to move the bracelet or he would question me later “did you switch your bracelet today?” (I think he took great pleasure in pointing this out to me since he did not want to wear one himself) I would assure him that I was being honest. If not I would only be cheating myself.
I noticed the very powerful influence the bracelet had to keep me aware of my own thoughts. How often do we think we are putting out only positive thoughts when in reality we are only aware of the thoughts that we are proud of?
“Complaining is like bad breath. You tend to notice it when it comes out of someone else’s mouth, but not when it comes out of your own.”—Will Bowen ~ from web site: a complaint free world
Today, because of the purple bracelet and my comment to make it 21days without a complaint I am more aware of my thoughts both positive and negative. I want to help change the world with one kind thought at a time.
Do you want to give non-complaining a try? You can order your own bracelet at the complaint free world web site. I think you will enjoy the challenge and reap many benefits! Don’t forget to laugh at yourself along the way! Humor makes the hard things light.
Judith Geiger, ACC
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What a great idea ! Not that it is the result that is truely important but the process of recognizing our thought habits and changing them that is the goal but did you make it? I know at work which can be frustrating at times I often hear myself complaining. Now having thought more about it after reading this I wonder how many times I haven’t heard myself complaining. I know I hear others complain. Thanks for the exercise even if I don’t wear the braclet(I’m sure it would get to stretched out from jumping back and forth between wrists) I am going to be more aware of my words and make them positive and if I forget too often I’ll try the bracelet.