In-negative / Doubt url
A friend tells you he’s taking drugs
- You’re throwing away your life.
- Don’t you have a mind of your own?
- Please tell me it’s not true.
- You just brought it all on yourself.
- Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
- Do you know what you’re doing?
- That’s what I call plain old stupidity.
- You must be crazy.
- Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
- I don’t seem to be able to get through to you.
- What are you trying to prove?
- You should have your head examined.
- You knew what you where getting yourself into.
- What are you trying to say?
- Was this your idea?
- It’s your own doing.
- Just look at you.
- Do as you wish, but don’t come crying to me for help when things go downhill.
- It’s the same thing over and over again.
- I don’t think anything I say will convince you one way or another.
- You don’t have anyone to blame but yourself.
- That’s the whole point, and I don’t think you’re hearing a word I’m saying.
- It seems as if what I’m saying is going in one ear and out the other.
- When I talk to you I don’t feel like there’s anybody home.
- What have you gotten yourself into?
A friend tells you he’s taking drugs
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-neutral / Advice url
Perspective-1
- You don’t know what’s in another person’s head until you’re standing in his shoes.
- It shouldn’t be taken lightly.
- You had it right the first time.
- Would that be the worst thing in the world?
- There’s nothing new under the sun.
- We’ve got our whole life ahead of us.
- See what a difference it makes?
- That’s all that matters.
- Don’t give it a second thought.
- There are exceptions to every rule.
- If you want my two cents, here is how I see it.
Perspective-1
Out-neutral / Advice url
Action-1
- Do something about it.
- Get on the ball.
- Give it a whirl.
- There’s no time like the present!
- Don’t put it off.
- Give it the old college try.
- You can’t walk with both feet on the ground.
- Don’t be passive.
- This is the moment of truth.
- Rise to the occasion.
- Take the bull by the horns.
- Strike while the iron is hot.
- This is a chance of lifetime.
Action-1
Out-negative / Anger url
I will stop you-2
- Wait till I get my hands on you.
- See you in court.
- I’m going to put your lights out.
- I won’t let you.
- I’m putting you on notice.
- You just wait and see.
- Over my dead body.
- I won’t stand for it.
- I’m not going to take any guff from you.
- I’m not going to let you get away with that.
I will stop you-2
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Hearing the stock market went down
- I don’t know if it’s of comfort to any of us, but we’re all in the same boat.
- I have no gripe and no regrets, because I went into the situation with my eyes wide open.
- You win some you loose some.
- I can live with that.
- That’s show biz.
- What goes up has to come down.
- Oh, well.
- I saw the handwriting on the wall.
Hearing the stock market went down
In-negative / Explaining url
After shoving a neighbor in a fight
- It was just a misunderstanding.
- I can’t explain it.
- I admit it, I cracked under pressure.
- I would like to try to set things straight.
- It’s all my fault.
- I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
- There’s a first time for everything.
- I acted on impulse.
- What can I say?
- I was taken off guard.
- Don’t get the wrong impression.
- Things just got out of hand.
- My pride got in the way.
- I hope I didn’t come on too strong.
- My emotions got the better of me.
- I really didn’t intend for things to turn out the way they did.
After shoving a neighbor in a fight
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
Out-neutral / Advice url
Be open-minded about other people
- He’s a cut above.
- I’m sure he’d be glad to do what you want.
- He has a mind of his own.
- She’s a tough cookie, but if you have patience, she’s something worth waiting for.
- I must admit, that even though it may not appear that way at first glance, that there’s a certain logic to what he’s saying.
- Don’t pass judgement.
- Two heads are better than one.
- If you can’t beat them, join them.
- She’s giving you every chance under the sun.
- I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by it.
Be open-minded about other people
Out-positive / Agreement url
If parents hugged their kids more, the kids would feel more loved.
- You hit the nail on the head.
- That goes without saying.
- Now that’s a very good idea.
- That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to say.
- Now you’re talking!
- That could very well be.
- You might say that.
- I’m inclined to agree with your way of looking at things.
- I bet you’re right.
- That’s the truest thing you ever said.
- That’s hard to beat.
If parents hugged their kids more, the kids would feel more loved.
In-positive / Confidence url
Using a new recipe for a meal
- I heard it directly from the horse’s mouth.
- Trust me I know what I’m doing.
- It’s as easy as 1-2-3.
- Maybe that’s all I have to do to make it work.
- That’s the way I like it.
- It’s as easy as pie.
- I’ve done it before, I’m totally capable of doing it again.
- I can handle it myself.
- It’s as easy as that.
- It’s a piece of cake!
- I can do it with one hand tied behind my back.
- The proof is in the pudding.
Using a new recipe for a meal
Out-neutral / Advice url
Realistic-1
- Try to be realistic, don’t be fooled by wishful thinking.
- You’re kidding yourself.
- You can only go so far.
- Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
- Life’s not fun and games.
- In my opinion, you’re just fooling yourself.
- I’m just suggesting that you should look at your options again, because in the long run, I think you’re setting yourself up for endless let downs.
- Try to see the situation for what it is, because it’s better if you don’t have to learn that the hard way.
- It’s a question you have to ask yourself.
- You have to be realistic.
- You’re living in a fool’s paradise.
- The reason your ideas are not more successful is that they are all half-baked.
- You’re spending money like it was going out of style.
Realistic-1