"Thought-Terminating Cliches"

The Japanese say "shouganai" which literally translates to "It can't be helped."

The problem is, 90% of the time, it absolutely can be helped.

I feel like "it is what it is" is too often shit on.

I had a boss from whom I learned about staying calm and keeping steady course.

His favorite saying was "it is what it is" and it was always in the context of simply recognizing the reality for what it is, instead of hoping or wishing it was something else or lamenting over how it should have gone a different way. Then, from the point of accepting that "it is what it is" we would focus on how to get to where we wanted to be.

Sure it can be used dismissively, but I feel like people always just dismiss it as a cliche when it's actually usually a very good philosophy.

Thought Terminating Cliches can be useful because it is not productive to worry about things over which you have no power.

This term seems like just an insult wearing academic robes. And a tautology. All cliches over simplify the world, side-stepping complex analysis.

There's nothing "thought terminating" about acknowledging that a problem is beyond your scope - which is what the first two mean. I've only heard YOLO used to encourage risk-taking, which is completely different.

Realistically, these are often just social cues that you're bored with the conversation.

Obviously whether you use a cliche to avoid thinking deeper on a topic or for some other reason changes with each use. It's not inherent to the phrase.

I feel like "fuck it we ball" applies too. At least that's how I use it.

Well, sometimes an end to a discussion is exactly whats needed. Sometimes. Like when theres literally nothing to do about something. Or the discussion is going in circles. Or when it would take shorter time to try it out in practice than have another meeting about the best way to implement it.

Who gives a shit.

It's what it's.

“I haven’t stopped thinking about this since”

I think these phrases can also help if you are a person, like I am, who ruminates in unhelpful and damaging thought patterns.

Some of us think and agonize too much in an unhealthy way and definitely need ways to shut it down.

So it goes.

But what about "It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose"?

They don't think it be like it is, but it do.

Thought-Terminating Cliches aren't self-fulfilling!

It is what it is, I guess.

“Living their best life” and “Speaking their truth” are recent and annoying examples of this.

The first is always used to dismiss self destructive or irresponsible behaviour. The second is often used to make a statement that is either false, manipulative, subjective or a combination. Their isn’t a personal truth, there is only truth.

Or just "thought-stoppers".

Loaded language meant to quell criticism and dissent.

maybe they couldn't stop thinking about it but I'm built different

Ah well, live and learn!

Can't stop thinking about thought terminating cliches? Sounds like you need a thought terminating cliche!

Lol this lady doesn't know what platitudes are... hilarious

Well I'm just sayin

Inshallah. 🤷‍♂️

Cool story, bro.

Or my personal favorite, "that's just like, your opinion, man."

If we compiled a complete list of these, we would be horrified.

Something that I often say to myself to end contemplation paralysis is "What's the worst that can happen?" or "What's the worst case scenario?" If I'm debating trying something in the kitchen. "What's the worst that can happen? I waste a few cups of flour and some yeast."

What?

It is what is

Isn't "designed" to short circuit cognitive dissonance...

I mean, it kind of could be put that way, but only because OP doesn't seem to know they said the opposite of what they meant to from context.

It is what it is

Means

This is fucked, but I can't help

It's not to trick someone into ending a discussion, its commiserating over a shitty situation.

To let the other person know you're not talking about what's right and what's wrong. Just stating how something is.

Inshallah (wikipedia)

At the end of the day, you never know.

“It is what it is”

I kinda like 'its all good'. Which I never took to mean it was good but 'what you say when things go horribly wrong' as a joking meaning,aka it's the situation you can't change now so just go with it until you can change things.

Getting up from the sofa, combining the "old man standing up"-noises with a vague "yes, yes, yes..." then walking away.

I think there are some wise uses for “it is what it is” and YOLO, but that is mostly internal dialogue stuff. In conversation it feels way different.

The ultimate thought-terminating cliche triumvirate: This is it Fuck it It is what it is

• Paul Crik

"live and let live" is an ironic one we hear in vegan circles a lot.

Terminathought

You Oughta Look Out is just good advice in general.

👍

"It is what it is." Well no shit?

etymological classifications, as well as sociological ones, are quite the intrigue to me.

Humans have an innate desire to classify and codify things. For some reason.

Even when i hear those things it makes me want to explore a situation deeper because such phrases are indicative of an ignorant, fatalistic attitude that begs to be illuminated

Nothing you can do about it

Okay, it is what it is. But is it really what it is?

It's in God's hands, but is it really in God's hands?

YOLO, but do you really LO?

Looks like OP needs some thouhgt termination itself. It do be like that.

What does it mean to short circuit cognitive dissonance?

I'm pretty sure cognitive dissonance is not what she thinks it is.

Cognitive dissonance means holding two completely contradictory opinions at the same time. You can't shortcut cognitive dissonance, I don't quite understand what that means.