It Is What It Is… Until It Ain’t!

Are you familiar with the phrase “It is what it is”? It's a pretty well-known and widely used phrase, but few people know that it was first recorded as a phrase in 1949. The phrase was penned by J.E. Lawrence in the Nebraska State Journal and was used to describe the harshness of frontier life in the state. His statement is as follows: “New land is harsh, and vigorous, and sturdy. It scorns evidence of weakness. There is nothing of sham or hypocrisy in it. It is what it is, without apology.” The phrase has taken on the meaning of accepting tough situations and has been used by many. It is one that I have used on numerous occasions, but one day I added my caveat to it. As I write this blog, I have yet to accomplish my goal as a full-time speaker. I have another job that helps support the family. Now, this job isn’t horrible; it can be straightforward. But unfortunately, some factors make the job harder than it needs to be. When days at the job get hard because of those factors, my partner on the truck says, “It is what it is”. And one day I just replied, “Until it ain’t”. We both chuckled as we continued down the interstate. But that simple addition to the phrase stuck with me. “It is what it is… until it ain’t”. I can either accept this job and do little with my speaking business. Or I can invest more time and energy focusing on a career that aligns with my purpose. I still show up and take care of my duties for my job. But I need to make sure I am going harder for my own business, and not someone else’s. People accept situations in their lives that they can’t change. I do understand that there are things that we cannot change, but there are many times we are settling for situations that we can change. We stay in bad relationships, why? Because it is what it is. We stay out of shape and unhealthy, why? Because it is what it is. We stay in a cycle of bad habits, why? Because it is what it is. Why are you settling for mediocrity, the mundane, the straight-up garbage? Take the job example I gave. I know I need to keep working there for the time being, but as I previously stated, I have to continue to push towards my goal as a full-time speaker. That is how I will exit my current job situation. You may be in a garbage situation right now, but it doesn’t have to last forever. In some situations, you can exit immediately, and it would probably behoove you to do such. While some situations may be more like seasons, and you may not be able to dictate when you exit, but you can prepare for that exit. It is a mindset switch that needs to happen in all of us when we face difficulties. I know I can’t control or change everything in my life. But when I focus on the things I can control or change, those can turn into actions. Those actions can bring me closer to my goals. I think about the origin of the statement “It is what it is”. There was no change in the harsh climate that was being endured in Nebraska. Life has and will continue to hurl harsh climates at you. You can’t avoid them all. Some you will have to endure, and others you can change. It is what it is … until it ain't!