The Sayings That Sound Nice… But Kinda Suck (And What to Say Instead) (The Edge)

You’ve probably said them—or heard them—in tough times: “Everything happens for a reason,” “Time heals all wounds,” “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” But do these popular sayings actually help us heal… or just shut us down?

In this episode, Kelly and Chip break down some of the most common feel-good phrases we hear in hard moments—and explain why they might be oversimplifying real-life pain, struggle, and growth. From “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” to “if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life,” they dig into where these ideas fall short and how they can unintentionally cause harm.

But don’t worry—it’s not all doom and dismissiveness. They also offer more grounded, compassionate alternatives that make space for both truth and growth. Because sometimes, the best way to move forward is to stop pretending it’s all fine.

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HOSTS:

Kelly Henderson // @velvetsedge // velvetsedge.com

Chip Dorsch // @chipdorsch

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