It is what it is! But is it?
Tatiana Vanvelzor
Head of Global Sales || Retail Studio @ Sabre Hospitality > Empowering hoteliers to navigate innovation and hotel technology
The expression “it is what it is” has been on my mind lately. I know it sounds strange, since this is a very common and casual phrase in English speaking circles, but it caught me in a moment that sparked some deep thought. What does it really mean to say, “it is what it is”? How does it affect our mindset, our actions, and our outcomes?
When I hear this expression in general, it gives me a sense of resignation, acceptance, or fatalism about a situation or outcome. It implies that there is nothing we can do to change or improve the status quo, and that we have to settle for what we have. One could argue that this is a defeatist attitude that prevents us from taking action, seeking improvement, or finding alternatives.
But I disagree. I think it is not what it is, but what you make of it. You have the power and responsibility to shape your reality, challenge your circumstances, and pursue your goals. Nothing is fixed or inevitable unless you allow it to be. It is what it is, until you change it.
As Captain Jack Sparrow very well said: “The problem is not the problem, the problem is how to deal with the problem”. It is not enough to simply acknowledge the situation, we have to find ways to overcome it, or at least adapt to it. It is all about outlook, it is all about attitude, isn’t it?
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However, when you change the perspective, there is another way to look at this expression. Not as a sign of surrender, but of realism. It is a recognition of the facts, the constraints, and the limitations that we face in any given situation. It is a way of saying that we cannot change the past but can only focus on the present and the future. It is what it is, and that’s okay.
Sometimes, the best thing to do is to accept the reality as it is, and work with it, rather than against it. It is what it is, and that’s enough. We do not have to be constantly dissatisfied, unhappy, or restless with what we have. We can appreciate the good things, learn from the bad things, and make the most of what we have.
As the wise philosopher Epictetus said: “Don’t demand that things happen as you wish, but wish that they happen as they do happen, and you will go on well”. By aligning our expectations with the reality, we can avoid frustration, anger, and disappointment. We can also find peace, joy, and gratitude in the present moment.
It is what it is, and that’s good. It is all about balance, it is all about perspective, isn’t it?