In-negative / Confusion url
Trying to remember why you made a certain decision last year
- I can’t explain it.
- I’m not so sure.
- I don’t know what to say about it.
- I’m not sure exactly.
- I haven’t the slightest idea.
- I can’t put my finger on it.
- I don’t have a clue.
- I don’t remember off the top of my head.
- Your guess is a good as mine.
- That’s the thing I don’t understand.
- How can I be sure?
Trying to remember why you made a certain decision last year
Out-positive / Concern url
To a friend who is trying to decide whether to marry their boyfriend
- How do you feel about it?
- So what did you finally decide?
- Are you having second thoughts?
- You’re such a worry-wart.
- You look puzzled.
- You’re a scaredy cat.
- In your investigation, did you come up with anything?
- Perhaps you should consider being a little bit more flexible.
- You can’t be too careful.
- Why are you fighting it?
- Look before you leap.
- He who hesitates is lost.
- Perhaps you shouldn't be too judgmental.
- Have an open mind.
- I have some information, does it ring a bell?
- Don’t let yourself get rushed into it.
- Look before you leap.
To a friend who is trying to decide whether to marry their boyfriend
Out-neutral / Advice url
Flexible
- It’s best just to roll with it punches.
- Now let’s switch gears.
- Don’t get bogged down.
- That’s the way to learn how to do things like that.
- You’re as young as you feel.
- Pick up where you left off.
- Variety is the spice of life.
- When in Rome, do as the Roman’s do.
- Give it another shot.
- What have you got to lose?
- Let's play it by ear.
Flexible
Out-positive / Concern url
After a friend has just been robbed
- Are you alright?
- Get a hold of yourself.
- It’s not the end of the world.
- You can’t blame yourself.
- You’re shaking like a leaf.
- You’re as white as a ghost.
- It’s not your day.
- You’re as stiff as a board.
- It’s not something you could have been prepared for.
- It totally came out of the blue and took you completely by surprised.
- Day by day, this is something that you will gradually recover from.
- Take it from me, in a little while this will recede into the background of everything else in your life.
- I find your story absolutely heartbreaking.
After a friend has just been robbed
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Losing an election
- I guess I had it coming to me.
- It’s just wasn’t in the cards.
- You win some, you loose some.
- I guess I’ll just have to learn to live with it.
- I think I got the picture.
- That’s about the size of it.
- He was bound and determined to do it.
- He won, hands down.
- He’s a better man than I am.
- It’s was a forgone conclusion.
- The show’s over.
- That’s just the way it is.
- It was a missed opportunity.
- I had a feeling that would happen.
Losing an election
In-positive / Surprise url
A friend becomes president of the company
- Goodness gracious.
- Well what do you know?
- It’s too good to be true.
- For goodness sakes.
- For heaven’s sake.
- It took us all by surprise.
A friend becomes president of the company
In-neutral / Caution url
A publisher given a story that might be libelous
- I just can’t chance it.
- I’m going to treat it with kid gloves.
- It could blow sky high.
- Let’s not rush into things.
- I may be sitting on a time bomb.
- One option is for is for me to just wait it out.
- I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.
- It’s best if I wait until the whole thing blows over.
- I just don’t feel like bucking the system.
- I’m inclined to just tiptoe around the whole situation.
- I think if I got involved in any way I would be playing with fire.
- My gut feeling is that I should just leave it well enough alone.
- The fact that no one else wants to do it is not a good sign.
- I don't know the person involved from a hole in the wall, and I think I should regard that as a warning signal.
A publisher given a story that might be libelous
In-positive / Determination url
Writer writing a novel
- This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
- I’m going to do it slowly, getting my feet wet gradually step by step.
- I’ve been meaning to do this for a long time.
- I’ll hit the ground running.
- Now I really have to buckle down and get to work.
- Ready or not here I come.
- Another day and I’m up at the crack of dawn.
- I’ve paid my dues.
- Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
- I feel like I have boundless energy.
- I’m making progress, slowly but surely.
- I want to put some finishing touches on it before I wrap it up.
Writer writing a novel
In-negative / Desperation url
Breaking up a long term relationship
- I feel torn apart inside.
- That’s really depressing.
- Things seemed to be going well when all of a sudden our plans fell through.
- It’s tearing me apart at the seams.
- I’m down in the dumps.
- I don’t want to think about it.
- I never thought it would ever come to this.
- Sometimes I think, Why bother?
- Out of the frying pan into the fire.
- I feel shattered.
- I’m afraid I made it worse.
- I made the same mistake again.
Breaking up a long term relationship
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a friend who just got into a top business school
- You sure have come a long way.
- I’m not surprised that you succeeded, I always knew you had it in you.
- Shoot for the moon, and give it all you’ve got.
- You’re as smart as a whip.
- There’s no limit to what you can accomplish if you put your mind to it.
- What more could you ask for?
- With this under your belt, a golden future can be yours.
- I have absolute faith in you.
- It’s the opportunity of a lifetime.
- I don’t know how you accomplished so much in such a short period of time.
For a friend who just got into a top business school
In-positive / Confidence url
Planning a birthday party for a child
- Don’t worry your little head about it.
- It’s falling into place.
- That’s hardly a problem.
- I have it all figured out.
- All the plans are in place.
- You don’t have to worry about anything.
- You can put all your concerns aside and look forward to something wonderful.
Planning a birthday party for a child
Out-neutral / Advice url
Examine-1
- You can’t bury your head in the sand.
- Keep track of it.
- Keep it in perspective.
- Don’t blow it out of proportion.
- Keep your eye on the ball, and don’t get distracted.
- Life is never black and white.
- Stay focused, keep your eye on the ball, and don’t let your mind wander.
- I think your mind is playing tricks on you.
- I'll let you be the judge.
Examine-1