This is one of my favorite responses. It’s brief and to the point.  I think about it a lot, and I try to imagine a scenario that gets me from just, "Hanging there", to responding like I am, “Tony the Tiger, GREAT”!

A friend was telling me about the confusing directions she gets from her three Bosses.  One, a senior executive and the other two, who are indirect reports to the senior.  The senior can be quite abrupt and very direct and takes 15 seconds to tell her what he wants and she gets it all, IF she takes notes.  He doesn't allow questions.  Boss number two never gives straightforward directions, even when approached directly.  Number three agrees with the other two no matter who says what.

So, she walks around on tiptoes most days.  One day, it got the best of her and she blurted out, “I don’t know what I should do?”  And because I didn’t have a proper comeback to her outburst, I gave her a sigh and told her to, “Hang in there”.

I immediately felt terrible about my weak response and wished I could have expressed more soothing feedback to my friend. But I was caught off guard by her admission and I was at a loss on what to say or do.

That phrase, "Hanging in there" is really not a conversational cop-out – but more a kind of coping language mechanism and a reminder that whatever situation is at hand, things could always be worse.

Depending on the tone used, this response could sound depressing.  If it’s spoken too upbeat, it becomes a brush-off.  If you use facial expressions to convey sincerity, it might show the recipient that you care, without having to add more language to the response.

I have to admit, I get a lot of mileage out of this phrase because it covers a lot of areas.  If I say it just right, the inquisitive person is satisfied and will move on.

But sometimes when asked, “How’s it going”? Or “What’s going on”? People are just being friendly or social. Nothing more.  They don’t want long explanations because they are just “hangin’ in there”, too. …”

...Inspirationally Yours,

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