We've all heard this phrase more and more over the last several years. I've heard it in the church and in the conference room. It usually comes with the body language of hands upturned in a sign of surrender. It's become the go-to phrase for when you don't really know how to explain a situation or what to say. When you feel powerless to solve the problem, your plaintive response is simply "it is what it is."
"I hate my job but…it is what it is."
"I can't seem to lose the weight but…it is what it is."
"My car is a wreck but…it is what it is."
"My marriage is such a disappointment but…it is what it is."
"My kids are a disaster but…it is what it is."
What a waste of five perfectly good words.
"It is what it is" is probably the most apathetic (or pathetic) phrase known in the English language. The fact is, it isn't what it is. It is what you've settled for. It is what you are prepared to live with. It is what you feel powerless to change.
Come on. You're better than that. You're not a victim and you're certainly not powerless.
If you ever feel tempted to say those words just stop yourself. Figure out exactly why you're tempted to use that phrase. Then figure out what you need to do to change the phrase to, "It is what it is…for now. But things are going to change."
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