Out-positive / Concern url
After a friend just found out he’s been fired from his job
- My heart goes out to you.
- Tomorrow is another day.
- There’s always hope.
- Things are tough all over.
- I’m sorry to hear that.
- That’s a crying shame.
- I know what this means to you.
- I’m sure you’ll recover from this, slowly but surely.
- Who knows, perhaps in the long run this could be the best thing that ever happened to you.
- You look down in the dumps.
- I don’t envy you.
After a friend just found out he’s been fired from his job
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
Let’s pause & cool it off for now
- I think we should leave it well enough alone.
- It doesn’t matter.
- Let’s just call it a day.
- Let’s leave it at that for now.
- You don’t have to decide right away, because the offer is always open.
- Let’s change the subject.
- The less said about it, the better.
- Let’s leave it at that.
- Let’s sleep on it.
- Let’s just call it quits for now, OK?
Let’s pause & cool it off for now
In-negative / Desperation url
Losing a chunk of data from a laptop hard drive
- That will be the straw that breaks the camels back.
- I’ve taken about all that I can take.
- This is driving me so batty that I could scream.
- What rotten luck.
- I give up.
- I can’t bear to face it.
- Why me?
- Don’t even talk to me about it.
- It's not my day.
Losing a chunk of data from a laptop hard drive
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 / Surprise url
Learning that a friend is a thief
- I’m shocked to say the least.
- I suspected it was true, but I didn’t put 2 and 2 together.
- I was so shocked because it happened right out of nowhere.
- The truth comes out at last.
- I didn’t expect it at all.
- I never would have suspected it.
- Speaking of the devil.
- Good grief.
- Ahah, just as I suspected.
- What was that all about?
- In all my years I never thought I’d live to see the day when you would say something like that.
- The cat is out of the bag.
- That came from out of left field.
- I am shocked beyond belief.
Learning that a friend is a thief
Out-negative / Annoyed url
You are crazy
- You’re out of your mind.
- Your mind is twisted.
- What do you have, rocks in your head?
- What’s wrong with you?
- You could drive a person insane.
- Are you out of your mind?
- Have you lost your mind?
- You don’t know what you’re saying.
- What’s gotten into you?
- You doesn’t know if you’re coming or going.
- You’ve got some nerve.
- You don’t know what you’re talking about.
- You’re off the wall.
- You’re as crazy as a loon.
- That’s ridiculous.
- How can you justify to yourself what you are doing?
- You should be ashamed of yourself!
- How could you do such a thing?
- Every once in a while you need to be put in your place.
- I don’t see how anybody in their right mind would do something like that.
You are crazy
Out-negative / Annoyed url
You are hurting me
- You used me.
- You’re treating me like I’m low man on the totem pole.
- You’re causing me great pain.
- I don’t like to be played for a sucker.
- You make my life miserable.
- You’re a thorn in my side.
- Don’t give me the cold shoulder.
- This is beginning to wear on me.
- You make me feel like two cents.
- Don’t brush me off.
- Don’t patronize me.
- Don’t push your luck.
- You’re such a pain in the neck.
- That hit me below the belt.
- What am I, chopped liver?
- Stop nickel and diming me.
- That’s what really burns me up.
You are hurting me
In-negative / Desperation url
An addict
- Why is this so hard?
- I’m at the end of my rope.
- Things seem to be falling apart.
- I need it bad.
- What’s the use?
- I have nothing to live for.
- I’m grasping at straws.
- I have nowhere to turn to.
- There’s nothing to live for.
- I feel like I’m like beating my head against a brick wall.
- I’ve got a dark cloud hanging over me.
- For the longest time it’s just been one thing after another.
- I just can’t bring myself to change for the better.
- I don’t think I’m going to make it.
- I just can’t go on like this.
- Some days it doesn’t pay to get up in the morning.
- Sometimes I feel that I’m damned if I do, and damned if I don’t.
- I’m getting nowhere fast.
- It’s no use.
- I feel sick like a dog.
- I appreciate your advice, but that's all easier said that done.
An addict
In-positive / Confidence url
After finding way out of the forest
- Throughout the whole situation I was cool as a cucumber.
- It went off without a hitch.
- I’m sure it’s going to be smooth sailing ahead.
- It won’t happen again.
- I’m a better person after what I’ve learned from this experience.
- Sometimes we learn the most from our challenges.
- Climbing up the mountain took the wind out of me, and I had to rest for an hour before continuing my trek.
After finding way out of the forest
Out-neutral / Advice url
When someone is trying to pick a fight with you.
- Leave it alone.
- Don’t make an issue of it.
- You don’t have to answer every dog that barks.
- If you don’t let it drop, it’s going to escalate.
- Just because someone throws down the gauntlet, doesn’t mean you have to pick it up.
- Leave it well enough alone.
- Just ignore it.
- Don’t pay it any mind.
- Let it be.
- I can assure you, nothing good is going to come from this.
- Two wrongs don't make a right.
- Just walk away, and pretend that it never happened.
- You should know better than that.
- Sometimes it's better to say nothing at all in response.
- If you don't respond, it will all just blow over as if nothing happened.
- One word can lead to another, until it's a fire that's hard to put out.
- Don't make an issue out of it.
- I've seen it happen countless number of times before, and it always has the same bad, stupid ending.
- The sad thing about it, is that it's so preventable.
- Take a deep breath, don't respond, and walk away.
- Discretion is the better part of valor.
- These things lead to no good.
- Don’t get sucked into the game their playing.
- Nothing good is going to come from this.
- It always has the same bad ending, so nip it in the bud.
- A wise person thinks twice, before saying nothing.
When someone is trying to pick a fight with you.
Out-neutral / Advice url
Stronger-1
- Stand on you own two feet.
- You’ve got to believe in yourself.
- Having a positive attitude is half the battle.
- Put your foot down.
- Fend for yourself.
- Put a smile on your face.
- Take it like a man.
- Hang in there.
- Show your true colors.
- Give it your best shot.
- You’re going to need to crack down.
Stronger-1
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