I hear this phrase on my travels quite a bit, particularly in recent times. It is what it is. It is delivered in a stoic manner, conjuring images of plucky resolve and British stiff upper lipness. Yes, times are tough but we just need to roll up our sleeves and get on with it. The old Blitz spirit and all that. We will get through it somehow and once on the other side will look back at how strong and courageous we were in the face of such indomitable odds.
Such an attitude is viewed as a positive attribute, something to be admired in an individual. But is it? For to me, it speaks more of a negative, defeatist frame of mind. I have looked at the situation from every angle and come to the considered conclusion that there is not one thing I can do to improve my circumstances and those of the people around me. It’s game over and we best just batten down there hatches until events have run their inevitable course.
We are creatures of freewill. We don’t have to accept our lot. We can say ‘no’ just as easily as we can say ‘yes.’ I’m as guilty as anyone of the ‘I’m giving up, glass half empty’ mentality and, believe me, I annoy myself greatly on said failing. But I’m trying to improve in this area of my life. I’m endeavouring to use the little influence I have on this platform to reach out to others and say…it doesn’t have to be this way.
It’s okay to turn against the tide and go against the grain now and again. It’s alright to stand up and be counted. You might think your efforts amount to very little but, as individuals and as a collective, we can create change. Change for the better. The status quo does not, must not be the norm, especially if it’s a place we do not wish to remain. We deserve better than being beaten down by others. It doesn’t have to be this way. It isn’t what it is.
Black Thoughts 
From Robert Bolt’s script from The Mission.
Hontar: We must work in the world, your eminence. The world is thus.
Altamirano: No, Señor Hontar. Thus have we made the world…
We don’t have to accept what others tell us; we are the ones who can shape our future, rather than blame others for how things are now…
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Wise words indeed. Thank you 😊
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You may find this interesting?
https://lifeisthismoment.com/2014/05/19/meister-eckhart-and-the-wayless-way/#more-181
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Thank you 😊
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Yes. Don’t be a lemming. Be a fish swimming upstream for a greater purpose.
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Lemmings can swim? Well, I never 😃
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Sure! Like little rocks!
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Yes! Agreed. I would only add the note that we humans seem to have a nearly infinite capacity to devise different answers to the question, “What is it, anyway?” Meaning: what it is to me is rarely what it is to you. So how can any of us say, “It is what it is” with any authority at all?
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That’s very true. I’m going to steal that from you 😊
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That phrase has a worse meaning for me after that was trumps response when asked what do you say about 200,000 dead? Something like that.
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The man is unhinged 😐
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no kidding
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No, ‘what it is’ does not have to be the future. We can change, in our lives, what IT is.
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Most definitely 👍🏻
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Good piece, and I like that final word “It isn’t what it is”… or… as we might crassly say it in the US, “It ain’t what it is.”
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Thank you 😊
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“God grant me the courage to accept the things I cannot change, and courage to change the things I can” springs to mind. I think we could all do with a good shot of courage right about now.
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Most definitely Carol. Thank you 😊
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My pleasure
❤
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VERY well said!
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Thank you Stacey 🙂
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You’re welcome, friend 🙂
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Great post. I’m a big believer in the serenity prayer, which is hackneyed but still wise: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.” I think we need to fight to change what’s wrong, but we need to choose those battles carefully, lest we wear ourselves out on a fruitless fight and have no energy for a fight we could win.
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Thank you Janet for sharing your wisdom 🙂
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I agree with you on how this phrase can be negative.
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Thank you.
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I think ‘it is what it is’ is a realisation that this is the current situation we have to deal with. Many people’s current anxiety stems from what has happened in the past. Blame to who or what was responsible, feeling bitter and angry about where we are now, who was to blame (which is futile?). So the first port of call for me is acceptance of the past to this point, provides the mind with peace. Then as I don’t have anxiety about the current situation it leaves me clearer-headed, level-headed, and rational to what I can do for the future to make a difference in the pandemic.
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That’s a great attitude to have. Thank you very much for sharing it 🙂
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I think we can all relate to having the “I’m giving up” feeling at one point or another. For me it used to happen as often as one a week, and for a year it kinda just hung around life a bad smell. It has taken conscious effort to acknowledge change was needed within my own outlook on life, within how I spent my time, and what time of energy I gave to the world. Some things need to change and we must be a driver for them whenever we can.
Peace to you Stephen.
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Thank you very much Hamish. Wise words ☘️
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