People With Weak Mental & Emotional Intelligence Usually Say 10 Phrases In Casual Conversation
KaterynaUKR | Shutterstock Getting straight A's is great, but healthy relationships don't require a high IQ. If someone lacks mental and emotional intelligence, even the brightest mind can't save them from ending up alone.
Even worse, some people know they lack these so-called soft skills and don't care at all. They're stubborn or too lazy to change. To protect yourself from these types, watch out for a few awkward phrases when they talk to you.
People who are weak in mental and emotional intelligence say 10 phrases in casual conversation:
1. 'It is what it is'
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It doesn't matter how good you are at planning out your life, sometimes, things fall apart. Work obligations and family drama have a way of getting the best of us.
Rather than addressing struggles head-on and learning from them, weak people typically say, "It is what it is." This shirks any responsibility to reflect or take accountability.
Call them childish, but it won't stop them from avoiding their problems. They just aren't mentally or emotionally strong.
It might feel good to them in the moment, but avoidance can only get you so far. By the end of it, emotionally avoidant people develop more emotional difficulties.
2. 'I don't owe anyone anything'
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Your loved ones and trusted colleagues work hard to help you build the life of your dreams. They sacrificed time, money, and sleep to make you happy.
That's why saying "I don't owe anyone anything" is such a huge sign of emotional weakness. While nobody owes anyone emotionally (at least on a technical level), we do owe the people around us respect and gratitude for their contributions to our success and happiness.
This mindset may feel to the emotionallly weak person like an advantage, but, as licensed psychologist, Dr. Ashley Smith writes, "Gratitude can increase your happiness and wellbeing, life satisfaction, even overall health while decreasing the stuff we all want less of like anxiety, depression, and anger."
These mentally weak people miss out on all of that.
3. 'Must be nice'
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Once someone is hateful, there's no stopping them from causing emotional destruction everywhere they go.
Like a child, they sulk and pout when the spotlight is off of them. Instead of showing respect, emotionally weak people say, "Must be nice." They aren't saying it to be kind, they're being lowkey shady.
Weak people refuse to acknowledge others' successes. They have a fragile ego, which is why they react with jealousy. It's immature, but by rolling their eyes and being passive-aggressive, they feel a little more invincible.
When someone says this phrase in a casual conversation, don't react. Feel sorry for them instead (while being warned about who they are and what they're willing to do).
4. 'I don't care what anyone thinks'
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In an ideal world, people wouldn't care about what others think and they'd be free to be their authentic selves. Unfortunately, we live in a pretty judgmental society.
People who are emotionally and mentally weak don't know how to strike the balance between not caring what everyone thinks and caring how your choices affect others.
Especially in relationships, considering your partner's feelings should always be a priority. But those who are mentally weak believe they're the exception. Worse, they're proud of it.
5. 'That's someone else's problem'
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As the world changes, it often feels like the lack of empathy only continues to grow. Too often, people mistake selfishness for strength.
However, only weak people think this way. The world can demand heartlessness, but truly powerful people don't fall for it. They stand their ground and help those in need.
Emotionally strong people never say, "That's their problem," in conversations. Instead, they remain gracious and ever kind. Giving a listening ear, they aren't afraid to insert themselves just because it isn't their burden to bear.
6. 'They're just jealous'
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It doesn't matter what a mentally weak person does wrong, they can excuse it.
Without missing a beat, they'll always brush off people's valid concerns by claiming they're just jealous. It's irrational, however, weak-minded people don't care. They're desperate to cling to their version of reality.
It's much easier to swallow a lie than handle the truth. Like a child, they'd much prefer to bury their head in the pillow than own up to their mistakes. In the moment, it feels a lot easier to handle.
However, dodging accountability is bound to catch up with these emotionally weak people. Someday, with zero friends on their side, they'll regret every excuse they ever gave and realize people weren't jealous after all.
7. 'You can't trust anybody'
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Everyone knows that human beings need social connections. It's vital to our survival. Social connections can help us live longer, happier lives.
This doesn't mean forming deep and trusting relationships is easy. At the end of the day, people suck, friends betray you, and even your family might let you down.
When that happens, weak people shut down. Strong people process and don't allow their experiences to get the better of them.
Unlike weak people who say, "You can't trust anybody," strong people become good judges of character and keep their circle small. Then they let themselves trust others and love them deeply.
8. 'You made me do this'
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An emotionally weak person will always place blame on others, even if it's clearly their fault. Too caught up in the other person's words or behavior, they neglect their part entirely. But as the old saying goes, it takes two to tango!
Just because someone is being rude doesn't mean you need to strike back. As an adult, you have to manage your own emotions.
Unfortunately, these mentally weak people aren't here to grow. They hate admitting they're wrong. Prideful and immature, they'd rather say "You made me do this" than ever utter, "I'm sorry."
9. 'They'll get over it'
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Weak people aren't just immature, they're heartless. They aren't too fond of listening to other people's problems, even when they are the cause of the pain.
It's cruel, but in their eyes, if it doesn't hurt themselves, then it's clearly not important.
However, this type of mentality can only get them so far. By being careless with other people's emotions, they'll only continue to stunt their own growth. Unable to see beyond their own perspective, they'll struggle to form meaningful connections.
10. 'It's common sense'
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Just because someone with weak emotional intelligence says "it's common sense" doesn't make it true. In fact, it's probably not.
Common sense is actually rarely a good excuse for anything. As associate professor Michelle vanDellen, Ph.D., writes, "Without clear guidelines about how to behave, common sense leaves too much open to interpretation and will be difficult to enforce."
Unfortunately, weak people aren't here for the facts.
In true weak person fashion, many say this thinking it's a "gotcha" moment, but it often reveals more about themselves than the other person.
Marielisa Reyes is a writer with a bachelor's in psychology who covers self-help, relationships, career, family, and trending topics.
