Out-positive / Agreement url
Don’t you agree that guaranteed basic income would reduce poverty?
- I must admit, when you’re right, you’re right.
- That’s exactly what I think.
- I think that’s an idea whose time has come.
- That would be neat.
- I agree that it’s as simple as that.
- I see your point.
- I have a funny feeling that time will bear that out.
- Amen!
- You couldn’t be more right.
- I believe that the data will validate what you are saying.
Don’t you agree that guaranteed basic income would reduce poverty?
In-positive / Confidence url
Preparing for a test
- I can do it with my eyes shut.
- I know it like the back of my hand.
- I’ve got it under control.
- I think I’ll be able to muddle through for a while.
- I made a lot of progress.
- I can cope with it.
- It will be a breeze.
- I'm holding my own.
- My head is still above water.
- So far so good.
- Every few hours I just run out of steam and need to rest awhile until I get my energy back.
- I’m holding my own.
Preparing for a test
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a son who is having difficulty learning how to read
- You’re beginning to catch on.
- Slowly but surely.
- Stay focused, keep your eye on the ball, and don’t let your mind wander.
- All things take time and effort, that’s to be expected.
- With a bit of work and luck, it will all work out fine in the end.
- You’ll look back on this and smile that you ever doubted your own ability to succeed.
- I know what it’s like because I went though a similar situation when I was your age.
- It’s really coming along.
- You’re really getting the hang of it.
For a son who is having difficulty learning how to read
Out-positive / Apology url
After a boss tells a worker that management won’t let him give the worker an expected raise
- I only wish I could have done more.
- I did the best I could.
- I’m sorry, my hands are tied.
- It might not make any sense to you, but that’s what they decided, and I hope you understand.
- I’m sorry that it’s not the answer you hoped for.
- My apologies that it took me longer to get the answer than I thought it would.
- I hope that we’ll be able to give you a better answer next time.
- I’m hoping this is something you can live with for the time being.
- I was told to explain to you that it’s due to circumstances beyond their control.
- Please give us a chance to make it up to you next time.
After a boss tells a worker that management won’t let him give the worker an expected raise
Out-neutral / Advice url
Look inside yourself
- You’re green with envy.
- Try to remember the best you can.
- Take a good look at yourself.
- Don’t hold back what’s on your mind, spit it out, and let me know what you’re thinking.
- Your pride got in your way.
- Let your inner voice be your guide.
- Why would you want to do something like that?
Look inside yourself
In-positive / Happiness url
Eating a delicious meal
- It’s the highlight of my day.
- It really hits the spot.
- There’s nothing like it.
- Now that’s more like it.
- I’m as happy as a clam.
- Thank heaven for small miracles.
- I feel an inner glow that will last for some time.
- That’s certainly something to write home about.
Eating a delicious meal
In-positive / Determination url
Husband and wife trying to work things out
- This a golden opportunity.
- Let’s take care of this right now.
- Time to switch gears.
- We’ve put it off long enough.
- Let’s see what we can do about it.
- Let’s start the ball rolling.
- Where there’s a will there’s a way.
- Onwards and upwards.
- We still have a long way to go.
- There’s one way to find out.
- I think the time has come for us to turn over a new leaf.
- Let’s give it our best shot.
- First things first.
- There's nothing that we can't do.
- We can work it out.
- There's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
- Give me space, I need a little bit more breathing room.
- Let's give it time.
- Where does that leave us?
- We need to make up for lost time.
- If we're really open and honest with each other, and both speak from the heart, without being afraid or defensive, perhaps we can really bring out into the open any issues that are bothering us, and get to the bottom of what's getting in the way of our getting closer.
Husband and wife trying to work things out
In-negative / Explaining url
Trying to fix work-mate’s computer
- I found the problem, but I just need time to fix it.
- I’m a little rusty.
- I’m working on it.
- I've hit a brick wall.
- I tried my best, but I guess that just wasn’t good enough.
- It doesn’t look like I’m making much headway.
- Oh well, it was worth a try.
- It may look simple, but it's really complicated.
- You can’t blame a fellow for trying.
- I’m sorry that it just didn’t work out.
- Back to the drawing board.
- I got more than I bargained for.
- That’s easier said than done.
- It was a shot in the dark.
- That’s what I could do.
- I’m sure you were expecting more from me.
- I’m trying my best.
- That’s the only thing I can think of.
Trying to fix work-mate’s computer
In-positive / Confidence url
Given a new assignment at work
- I should have no trouble accomplishing the task.
- This will be one more feather in my cap.
- I know everything there is to know about it.
- It’s a piece of cake.
- Consider it done.
- I’ve done it once, and I can do it again.
- That’ll be no problem whatsoever.
- I can knock that off in no time flat.
- I can get through this in no time at all.
- I know where it’s at.
- Now we're getting into a whole new territory.
- That’s very do-able.
- That will be carried out to the letter.
- That’s as easy as pie.
- I’m going to get it done in two seconds flat.
- My head is still above water.
Given a new assignment at work
In-positive / Confidence url
Husband telling his tired wife he will make dinner
- You let me worry about that.
- I can handle it.
- Let me handle this.
- Don’t you worry about a thing.
- Just leave it to me.
- This is just my cup of tea.
- You’re in good hands.
Husband telling his tired wife he will make dinner
In-negative / Desperation url
Losing a job
- I can’t tell you how awful it is.
- I’m going to lose my mind.
- After what I’ve been through, I don’t know which way is up.
- It’s a lost cause.
- It’s a no win situation.
- It’s all downhill from here.
- It’s a sad state of affairs.
- It feels like things are spinning out of control.
- This is driving me up a wall.
- I’m at loose ends.
- It all seems like a bad dream.
- I feel like I’m on the ropes.
- I think I’m going to throw in the towel.
- After I try my best, and I find a lot of good that does.
- Where can I turn to?
- It hit me like a ton of bricks.
Losing a job
Out-positive / Concern url
To a friend who just lost a lot of their money in the stock market
- I’m sorry it didn’t pan out.
- I think your nest-egg was your security blanket, and now you’ll just have to pick up the pieces and go on from here.
- This puts you in a terrible position.
- I don’t envy you.
- That’s such a shame.
- You look like you’ve seen a ghost.
- You might have to start over from square one.
- You’ll need all the help that you can get.
- After such an experience, it might turn out that you’ll never be the same.
- You shouldn’t have put all your eggs in one basket.
- It’s written all over your face.
- You’re lucky that it wasn’t much worse than it was.
To a friend who just lost a lot of their money in the stock market