Yeah, Yeah, Sure, Sure: Defusing Life’s Daily Stress
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Every morning at Jimmy’s Italian Food Store in East Dallas, I catch up with friends, solve the world’s problems, and get my day started with a little coffee and a lot of laughs. One of my friends, Bobby, has this phrase—“Yeah, yeah, sure, sure”—that he throws out daily like a catch-all response. It’s his way of brushing off whatever small talk or nonsense comes his way. But yesterday, I got to thinking…
What if we all had a “yeah, yeah, sure, sure” mentality for the negative things in life?
Let me explain.
Words Give Power to Your Thoughts
We tend to magnify problems in our minds. Something minor can become monstrous just by how long we ruminate on it. Why? Because when the brain perceives stress, it flips the switch into fight-or-flight mode—and that shuts off our critical thinking. You can’t solve a problem logically when your brain is just trying to survive.
That’s why having a simple, calming phrase to default to when adversity hits can change your entire reaction—and your outcome.
The Mental Playbook Reset
A “yeah, yeah, sure, sure” mentality doesn’t mean we ignore issues or stop caring. It means we strip away unnecessary emotional weight and handle business without extra stress.
Someone canceling a meeting?
“Yeah, yeah, sure, sure.” Let’s adjust and move on.
Client feedback you didn’t expect?
“Yeah, yeah, sure, sure.” Stay calm, assess, respond intelligently.
It’s about denying your problems the playbook. Don’t hand your mind over to worry.
Find Your Personal Phrase
You don’t have to use Bobby’s phrase or mine. Personally, I say, “It be like that sometimes.” It’s my release valve. It helps me stay grounded when someone gives harsh feedback, when a deal falls through, or when things don’t go my way.
You might say, “Oh well,” or “Noted.”
Heck, you might even say “Ratatouille” if it makes you laugh.
The key is: make it yours—and make it a habit.
Calm Mind. Better Choices.
When adversity hits and your go-to phrase kicks in, you delay that initial outburst. You protect your peace. You give your logical brain time to reset. And most importantly, you don’t give power to problems that don’t deserve it.
So today, choose your phrase.
Practice using it in tough situations.
And remember—your peace is worth protecting, and sometimes all it takes is a simple shift in how you respond.