“Shoulds” create unnecessary pressure on you and others.
Most people are unaware of the number of times they think or say the word “should” or the shoulds-in-sheep’s clothing:
- The “Must’s,”
- The “Have to’s,”
- The “Got to’s,”
- The “Ought to’s.”
This way of thinking might be second nature to you. You think them and say them automatically.
An easy way to break this pattern is to count the “shoulds.”
For a week or two, use a golf stroke counter to count each time you think or say the word “should” (or its other forms).
If you don’t have a counter, place pennies in one pocket and transfer a penny to the other pocket each time you think or say “should” and then put the “should” pennies (or other tokens if you’re short of pennies) in a jar so that you can see the full weight of the tyranny under which you live.
Similarly, you can mark on a piece of paper each time you think or say “should.”
As you become more aware of how often your “shoulds” push you around, you’ll find it easier to let go of shoulds and watch them drift away.
