Scarcity can sharpen imagination when complaining stops occupying the workspace.

Complaining takes up the same mental space that solving would, and it is more comfortable because it requires no risk. Scarcity can genuinely sharpen thinking, but only once the workspace has been cleared of the running commentary about how unfair the shortage is.

Give the complaint a fixed amount of time and then stop. Say the situation plainly, once, and move to what can be done with what is here. The sharpening happens after that.