You’ve probably seen those deep quotes on Instagram, usually over a photo of a sunset or someone meditating in a field. They sound like they mean something. But once you stop & think about them, you realize that they’re just a word salad. So, let’s look at thirteen “deep” phrases that actually mean nothing. How many have you previously used?
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1. You have to lose yourself to find yourself
What does the idea that “you have to lose yourself to find yourself” even mean? Such a phrase completely ignores the fact that most people don’t need to get lost to figure themselves out. Instead, they’ll probably need some sleep & a break from doomscrolling. You could spend three years losing yourself and still end up confused, so it’s not exactly great advice.
2. The only constant is change
“The only constant is change” sounds like it means something, until you realize it’s really a fancy way of saying that stuff happens. It doesn’t actually give you anything to work with, nor does it tell you how to handle any change that may come your way. Instead, it fills up the space in a conversation where a real plan should be & serves absolutely no purpose.
3. You are exactly where you need to be
Saying, “You are exactly where you need to be” should be comforting, but it ignores the fact that someone’s life is a mess right now. Sometimes, no, you’re not where you need to be because you’re stuck in traffic & underpaid. This phrase is also far too passive, as it suggests someone is supposed to sit here in this mess because the universe thinks it’s character-building. How nice.
4. Let go and let the universe
Let go & let the universe…do what exactly? It’s not going to fix your credit score & pick your next job, nor will it give you any real sense of peace. If the universe is running the show, it’s not doing a very good job, as you still have to make decisions and show up on time. “Letting go” is usually an excuse for avoiding the hard stuff.
5. Just be your authentic self
Telling someone to be their authentic self is a bad idea because what are they supposed to do if their “authentic self” is still figuring stuff out? It sounds uplifting, yet this phrase leaves out the part where people evolve, and sometimes have no clue who they are before 2 PM. Plus, nobody really knows what version of themselves is the “authentic” one anyway.
6. Live your truth
Likewise, “your truth” could be anything from you hating to answer emails or you believing that pineapple belongs on pizza. It’s a rather open-ended line that sounds nice until someone uses it to justify being rude or skipping rent, so it needs some context to be better. Worse still, you can’t question someone’s behavior if it’s part of their truth.
7. You already have everything you need
It’s nice to imagine that you “already have everything you need,” but you probably don’t. You might need better tools or actual support, yet this line assumes you have it all and just need to apply yourself better. It ignores the fact that some people are under-resourced or completely burned out, while telling someone they already have “everything” puts the blame on them for failure.
8. Everything happens for a reason
People love to say that “everything happens for a reason” whenever someone’s car breaks down or they lose their job, But seriously, what’s the reason? Nobody ever says it & it’s simply something people will rely on when they don’t know what else to say. Such a phrase skips over all the details that actually matter, like the actual cause or decisions.
9. Time is just a construct
During late-night conversations, some people will say “time is just a construct” to try & sound spiritual. Great, but your rent is still due on the 1st, and deadlines still exist. It’s not like you can walk into work and tell them that you reject the construct of time, then walk out at 11:47. In theory, time is made-up, but your schedule doesn’t care about philosophy.
10. If it’s meant to be, it’ll be
Essentially, the idea that “if it’s meant to be, it’ll be” is a way to not make decisions. Sometimes things do work out, sure, but not because they were “meant to,” and instead, it’s because people put in the effort, or maybe they just got lucky. Either way, people usually say this when they don’t want to commit to something or take responsibility. It’s pure laziness.
11. Your vibe attracts your tribe
The idea that “your vibe attracts your tribe” is all over Instagram. Sure, vibes matter, but so does being reliable & kind, as well as showing up when you say you will. People don’t become best friends just because you lit a sandalwood candle and looked nice, as there’s a lot more to connection than energy & hashtags, like shared experiences.
12. You are not your thoughts
Great, you’re not your thoughts. Then who’s thinking them? It’s a nice phrase to deal with overthinking, but without anything else around it, it’s just confusing, and it’s often a way to dismiss any responsibility. Such a phrase raises more questions than it answers, which makes it a great conversation ender and not much else.
13. You are the universe experiencing itself
The only thing that the phrase “You are the universe experiencing itself” is saying is that you exist. Great, what a life-changing insight. It’s nothing but a meaningless sentence that tries to sound deep but really isn’t. While you can’t do anything with this information, people still love trotting this saying out.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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