Do NOT Say These Magic Words

Think about a problem in your life right now. Make it something substantial that you genuinely wish were different. Maybe something that grates on you day in and day out.

Fix your problem firmly in your mind so you can feel your emotions begin to rise.

Now I’m going to teach you the magic words…

It is what it is

WAIT! Don’t say it out loud! These words really are magic, and I don’t want their spell to overtake you.

Uttered with belief this seemingly benign phrase has the power to cement obstacles in your path never to be moved again. Forever.

This phrase is the voice of surrender. It’s the spirit of settling in to get comfortable with something really uncomfortable.

Don’t have the time to devote to finding a better job? It is what it is. Jobs are just sucky.

Is your 90 minute daily commute sucking the life out of you? It is what it is. That’s just life.

Don’t have the money to give your dream a descent chance? It is what it is. Not everyone can afford this stuff.

If you’re aiming for success – strike that phrase from your vernacular. Dead. Never. say it. again. period.

Because you are strong. You create change in the world around you.

You don’t settle.

When you surrender to your circumstances believing “it is what it is,” you’re laying down roots of the idea that you are powerless to change.

And the more those roots grow as you repeat “it is what it is,” the more powerless you really will become. It’s magic!

The more you say “it is what it is,” the more powerless you will become! #lifeStoked #proTip

— Deacon Bradley (@deaconbradley) January 31, 2012

Do not underestimate the power of these subtle words to influence your future. They do.

Instead ask this

Instead, ask yourself how could things be different? What needs to change? What can you do to change it?

These are the questions successful people ask. These questions will lead you to creative solutions.

Will it always work? Yes, but maybe not on the first try. You’ll often have to poke at a problem for a while before you start to make some progress.

But I know you’re willing to – because you don’t settle. You don’t surrender. You don’t accept your circumstances as final.

Opportunity is waiting. Don’t get stuck!

What is one thing you’ve surrendered to lately?

(photo credit)

Maya Pande

Arg
- Maya Pande
  
  Arghh! I’ve started saying this a lot for some reason and I felt that it made me seem more accepting of what’s happening around me. Which it is, but not in a good way, I see now. I am no longer going to say these words! Thanks Deacon!
tomewer

Couldn’t have put it better Deacon! Acquiescence is a most dangerous thing…
- deaconbradley
  
  @tomewer No doubt. I know I don’t have to worry about you though Tom! #killinIT
  - campbelld72
    
    @Bradtxs @deaconbradley @mathames great post! I, too, dislike that phrase vehemently 🙂
    - mathames
      
      @campbelld72 @Bradtxs @deaconbradley you should’ve been in class yesterday!
      - campbelld72
        
        @mathames I heard it was great. Sorry I wasn’t there. (cc @Bradtxs @deaconbradley)
      - mathames
        
        @campbelld72 @Bradtxs @deaconbradley there’s always this week! Part 2 of 2…
      - campbelld72
        
        @mathames great; are you teaching FB I or II? (cc @Bradtxs @deaconbradley)
      - mathames
        
        @campbelld72 @Bradtxs @deaconbradley II (the late one)
      - campbelld72
        
        @mathames thanks; I should be there. Appreciate the heads-up.
    - deaconbradley
      
      @campbelld72 @mathames @Bradtxs My favorite passive-aggressive response is usually, “yea, NOW it is.”
      - mathames
        
        @deaconbradley @campbelld72 @Bradtxs I like that!
- mathames
  
  @Bradtxs @deaconbradley wow, this is exactly what I was trying to say – but put eloquently. Might read it in class next week.
  - Bradtxs
    
    @mathames @deaconbradley One of the commenters hit on the other perspective, too. #foodforthought
    - mathames
      
      @Bradtxs @deaconbradley as someone stated in class, it can be positive not to stress, but I don’t think that’s what ‘It is what it is’ is..
      - jbnobles
        
        @mathames @bradtxs @campbelld72 I’ll have to tune my argument for class Sun. My opinion may not be popular -or yours- but it is what it is!
      - campbelld72
        
        @jbnobles @mathames @bradtxs I’m intrigued… very cryptic. 🙂
      - mathames
        
        @jbnobles @bradtxs @campbelld72 @bethhames explained I shouldn’t have made my opinion known, so I’ll re-ask next week as a survey.
      - RyanEggenberger
        
        I need to stop saying those words! I say them but I don’t think I actually believe in them Thanks for the heads up!
      - deaconbradley
        
        @RyanEggenberger Yea I know what you mean. It’s become a running-joke in my family to call someone out for saying it. Makes us think!
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