Turning “Yeah, But…” Into Something Useful
And hold it right there, no, I’m not knocking Bobby McFerrin’s fun-loving, ’80s hit… just the overly simplistic sentiment in those four words.
You know the ones with the same vibe as those other well-meaning, Pinterest-pretty quotes that show up while you’re doom-scrolling at 12:49am on a workday.
Do you sometimes pause, maybe even smile a little… and then immediately dismiss them?
Like, yeah, right. Not for me.
Too many of them come off as vacant, sounding lofty, and even aggressively positive. Now, I’m generally a positive person, but too many of them feel like they don’t quite fit me or where I am right now. Best suited to someone else who has more of their day-to-day shit, closer together.
I don’t want to just dismiss them — I quite like them, because clearly the algorithm keeps serving them up to me. But in this next chapter, I’m not into forcing anything, or pretending what’s not fine is fine. Let’s see it, process it, and then reframe it to fit us. Laughing at ourselves whenever we can while choosing a better thought, when we can.
So instead of nodding along, rolling our eyes, or swiping past, let’s take those “feel-good” lines… and answer them honestly, for where we are right now.
They Say: Believe in yourself
I Think: But what if ‘myself’ is still my biggest hater?
So instead: Time to fire that voice and promote a better one. No second, third, or whatever chances. Be ruthless. Be forceful. Realize that you’ve outgrown the critic.
They Say: Trust the process
I Think: But does the process know we’re trusting it?
The reframe: Maybe, maybe not. But who cares… we’re winging it, too. We’re allowed to, as that’s how most shit actually gets done (or gets good!)
They Say: Follow your dreams
I Think: But what if my dreams still have commitment issues?
The reframe: Then date them casually. Show up for you, always. Consistency tends to make things stick, and if not, kick it out of the way for something better.
They Say: Stay positive
I Think: But what if positive is ignoring the obvious?
How about: Then don’t fake it. Be realistic… and try to minimize the spiraling over things you can’t control. This one’s a learned skill you have to practice.
They Say: Be yourself
I Think: But what if myself needs supervision?
Well then: Perfect! Still be yourself, just with better decision-making as you grow. And to grow means to learn. Heck, isn’t growth just supervised authenticity? The answer is, yes.
They Say: Never give up
I Think: But what if I keep holding onto the wrong thing?
Then instead: If you know it, then let that thing go, just not yourself. Big difference. And if you don’t know, ask that friend that can be a little err… shall we say ‘blunt’ at times. Oh, she’ll tell you. Time to finally listen, take it in, and do it.
They Say: Fake it till you make it
I Think: But what if I make it and I’m still faking it?
Flip it: Who’s gonna know? Huh? Reframe this as ‘learning in real time’. Eventually it stops being fake and starts being your experience.
They Say: Live in the moment
I Think: But what if my moment is a hot mess?
Still counts: Then it’s an honest one. Messy moments still count as living just as much as the Pinterest-pretty ones. The point is not to stop, but to see the tiny joys in the now. They’re still there.
They Say: Just be patient
I Think: But what if patience is hella-tired of me?
Reframe it: Flip patience into rest. Maybe you’re doing too much. Even patience takes breaks. Tea breaks, coffee breaks, cocktail breaks.
They Say: Trust your instincts
I Think: But what if my instincts just loooooove bad decisions?
So then: Your instincts need better data or fine-tuning. Hate to say it, but that comes from trying, failing, and adjusting. Rinse and repeat. Keep going!
They Say: Keep moving forward
I Think: But what if forward keeps side-eyeing me?
One answer: Bob and weave, but move anyway. Forward doesn’t need all your confidence or absolute truth — just your momentum.
They Say: Let it go
I Think: But what if it’s got a death grip on me?
Try this: Then loosen yours first. You don’t have to win the tug-of-war to walk away.
They Say: The universe has a plan
I Think: But why does mine have so many fucked up plot twists?
Reframe it: Plot twists make the story worth reading. That story being you. Sadly, we can’t always pivot from the fuckery. But we can lean into the lessons and work on shrinking their effects.
Ooh weee, I felt that one — but in a good way.
