* 12 Stress, Anxiety, Excitement (p.8 of 9)
12.31 When you blame an unfavorable situation on fate
It’s fate. Listen A “You’ve got to accept things as they are.” <“My grandmother died on the day when the war was over.” – “It’s fate.”>
It’s your fate. Listen <“I’ve never thought that I would move to another country.” – “It’s your fate.”>
It was fated to happen. Listen <“The housing market rose and then crashed in the matter of just few years.” – “It was fated to happen. Something like that had happened before.”>
It was destiny. Listen <“Last month, somebody stole my motorcycle from the garage.” – “It was destiny. Your garage is easy to get into.”>
It was destined to happen. Listen <“Our team lost the game.” – “It was destined to happen. They didn’t practice hard.”>
It was meant to be. Listen <“The local bridge fell in the river. A few people got injured.” – “It was meant to be. The bridge was old.”>
It’s the cruel hand of fate. Listen <“My parents got divorced after many years of living together.” – “It’s the cruel hand of fate. Some people don’t get along as they grow old.”>
It’s God’s will. Listen <“My grandfather died at the age of 99. He was a few months short of 100.” – “It’s God’s will.”>
It’s all in God’s hands. Listen <“Nights are unusually cold this week. I’m afraid my chrysanthemums will die.” – “It’s all in God’s hands.”>
It’s in the cards. Listen <“Everyone gets fired at least once in the lifetime. It’s in the cards.”>
It’s in the stars. Listen <“One can’t be successful all the time. What goes up must come down. It’s in the stars.”>
It’s karma. Listen <“The current recession will last for a few years more.” – “How can you be so sure?” – “It’s karma.”>
That’s how it goes. Listen A “That’s fate. That’s how it is.” <“Some people lose, some people win. That’s how it goes.”>
That’s the way it goes. Listen <“Many investors lose their money at the stock market.” – “That’s the way it goes.”>
That’s the way the ball bounces. Listen <“My uncle lost his fortune during the Great Depression.” – “That’s the way the ball bounces.”>
That’s the way the cookie crumbles. Listen <“Even invincible ships sink sometimes.” – “That’s the way the cookie crumbles.”>
That’s life. Listen A “That’s how it is in life.” <“A new generation is replacing an old one.” – “That’s life.”>
That’s just how life is. Listen <“I’m disappointed with your negative response, but that’s just how life is.”>
Things happen for reasons we don’t understand. Listen A “We cannot always explain why certain things happen.” <“Why me? Why am I punished?” – “Things happen for reasons we don’t understand.”>
Whatever will be, will be. Listen A “Events that are supposed to happen will inevitably take place.” <“You don’t need to worry about the future too much. Whatever will be, will be.”>
Who am I to question? Listen A “I am not a right person to ask why the things are the way they are.” <“I’ve been very sick for a long time. C’est la vie. Who am I to question?”>
You can’t fight it. Listen <“There is a housing crisis going on. Your home is depreciating, too. You can’t fight it.”>
Don’t fight it. Listen <“You can’t change anything in your situation. Don’t fight it.”>
Accept your fate. Listen A “Submit to what is unavoidable.” <“One of my grandfathers died when he was 46. The other grandfather died at the age of 52. Maybe I will die young, too.” – “Accept your fate. Don’t think about such things.”>
Don’t ask why, just accept it. Listen <“I’m very sorry for your loss. Don’t ask why, just accept it.”>
Bite the bullet. Listen A “Accept an unpleasant thing and try to live with it.” <“If you want to keep this job, you’ve got to make friends with the people at the office. Bite the bullet.”>
Roll with the punches. Listen A “Move in the direction life pushes you.” <“I have so many problems at work…” – “Roll with the punches. It will be over sooner than you think.”>
12.32 When you don’t want to talk about an unpleasant subject
Never mind. Listen A “Forget it. Don’t worry about it.” <“Damn it!” – “Did you say something?” – “No, never mind.”>
Skip it. Listen A “Forget it. Never mind.” <“I might need your help tomorrow.” – “What did you say?” – “Oh, skip it. It’s not important.”>
Don’t ask. Listen A “You better don’t ask because you are not going to like the answer.” <“So, how did your date go?” – “Oh, good heavens! Don’t ask.”>
You’ll be sorry you asked. Listen A “I won’t answer your question because you are not going to like my response.” <“How did you eventually get rid of the teenagers who chased you?” – “You’ll be sorry you asked.”>
You don’t want to know it. Listen <“How much did you pay for your new bicycle?” – “You don’t want to know it.”>
Drop the subject. Listen A “Stop talking about it.” <“So, how is your family life?” – “Drop the subject. I don’t want to discuss it.”>
I’m just thinking out loud. Listen A “I’ve said something, but I don’t want to continue.” <“What do you want to say by that? Are you scolding me?” – “Oh, no. I’m just thinking out loud.”>
Forget it. Listen A “Don’t ever bring up this subject.” <“Are you still seeing James?” – “Forget it. We broke up.” – “I’m sorry I asked.”>
Next question. Listen A “I don’t want to discuss it further, so let us move on to a next question.” <“So, are you going to Mexico this summer?” – “I don’t know if I have a vacation this summer, yet. Next question.”>
12.33 When you are outraged with a situation
This is outrageous! Listen <“Look at these prices. This is outrageous!”>
This is ridiculous! Listen <“You call it justice? This is ridiculous!”>
This is unreal! Listen A “No, it’s not happening!” <“Look what’s happening in the labor market. This is unreal! Why isn’t the government doing anything about it?”>
Unbelievable! Listen <“They cancelled our flight for the second time. Unbelievable!”>
12.34 When you like a situation
Very good! Listen <“Mother, I bought all the ingredients you had ordered.” – “Very good! I’ll cook an apple pie tonight.”>
Perfect! Listen <“All the members of the board are present. We can start our meeting.” – “Perfect! Let’s begin.”>
Excellent! Listen <“Our team has won again!” – “Excellent!” Now, we are one step closer to the finals.”>
Brilliant! Listen <“Our technicians found a solution to the problem.” – “Brilliant! Let’s move on with our project.”>
Great! Listen <“I got the tickets for tonight.” – “Great! I’ve always wanted to hear this singer.”>
Flawless! Listen <“Our partners have finished their job. Now, we are on our way to success.” – “Flawless!”>
12.35 When a situation is favorable to a person
Good for you! Listen A “This situation is good for you.” <“I just got promoted!” – “Good for you! You deserve it.”>
Lucky you! Listen <“Lucky you! All your dreams have eventually come true.”>
Lucky for you. Listen <“Lucky for you, I have Bill’s phone number. Call him now if you want.”>
You’ve got lucky. Listen <“I’m sorry I’m late for the meeting.” – “You’ve got lucky. The boss is late too, so we haven’t started yet.”>
12.36 When a situation appears suspiciously good
It’s too good to be true. Listen A “This situation is suspiciously good and therefore not likely to be true.” <“Your information arouses suspicion. It’s too good to be true.”>
What’s the catch? Listen A “This situation is suspiciously good, so it may contain a hidden drawback.” <“Okay, you may have this money.” – “What’s the catch?” – “There is no catch. This money is a loan, not a gift.”>
12.37 When you regret about something after the fact
It’s easy to be wise after the event. Listen <“Now I know I shouldn’t have done that.” – “Well, it’s easy to be wise after the event.”>
I should have known. Listen A “I should have known what would happen. I should have predicted consequences.” <“Things aren’t going the way I expected. I should have known.”>
I should have known better. Listen <“You are suffering because of my unwise actions. I’m sorry. I should have known better.”>
If I had only known then what I know now. Listen A “If I had only known then what I know now, I wouldn’t have done that.” <“To buy that stock a year ago was a mistake. If I had only known then what I know now…>
If I knew then what I know now. Listen <“I lost a lot of money on that unfortunate investment. If I knew then what I know now…”>
If I could only turn back the clock. Listen <“If I hadn’t driven my car in the storm, I wouldn’t have gotten into an accident. If I could only turn back the clock.”>
There you are. Listen A “You are brought to this result by your own actions or by uncontrollable circumstances.” (Here you may be impersonal and mean one) <“I was not supposed to do that. It cost me dearly. You see, you make one mistake, and there you are.”>
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