“It is what it is”. Over the last couple of years, I seem to be hearing this statement more and more often. People describe a situation, in which many times they are not entirely satisfied, then they say, “well, it is what it is”. I have even heard it in several television shows lately. So, the phrase seems to be getting around.
However, it is not necessarily the phrase itself that I dislike, but the attitude that goes along with it. I mean “It is what it is” is the equivalent of throwing our arms up in the air and basically giving up. Just accepting the situation like there is no hope to make it any better. You are saying “I accept it, and there is nothing that can be done”, without ever even trying to make a difference.
Whenever I hear this phrase, I immediately think, “but does it have to be?”. Could we do better in the situation? Is there a solution?
–What if the Wright Brothers said “it is what it is” after their first crash?
–What if Fedex said, “It is what it is” when they were laughed at about providing overnight service?
–What if the scientists for Covid 19 said “it is what it is”, that we cannot create a vaccine so quickly?
What situation are you in that you have said “it is what it is”, and you have accepted it without exhausting all possible solutions to making the situation better?
We have to ensure we are not falling into acceptance and complacency. Sure, there are some things we can not change, and we have to do our best. But we do not need to become a society that accepts anything that comes along by saying “it is what it is”.
We need to revise the thought process and say “it is what it is, but does it have to be?” And then go make a change and create a better situation.
Prime Leadership & Development 
We should only ever use this phrase for all those things we know cannot be changed…
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