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We say it all the time.
“I should be doing more.”
“I should have figured this out by now.”
“I should be happier, more grateful, more organized, more productive.”

But here’s the truth: should isn’t helping you — it’s hurting you.

It’s one tiny word that sounds responsible, even motivating, yet quietly drains your energy and joy. It carries the weight of guilt, comparison, and unrealistic expectations.

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☕️ The Sneaky Power of “Should”

“Should” pretends to push us forward, but it actually keeps us stuck.

Think about it:
When you tell yourself I should work out, do you feel inspired or defeated?
When you think I should be more patient, does it fill you with peace — or shame?

“Should” rarely leads to real change.
It just reminds us that we’re falling short of something — some invisible standard of how we’re supposed to live, parent, look, or succeed.

And half the time, those standards aren’t even ours. They’re borrowed from what we see online, what we grew up hearing, or what we think people expect of us.

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🌿 The Hidden Cost of “Should”

The danger of “should” is that it disguises pressure as purpose.

We start chasing what we think we should do instead of what we actually want or choose to do.
We fill our schedules with obligations that make us feel “good” on paper but empty in reality.
And somewhere along the way, joy becomes something we have to earn.

“Should” doesn’t leave space for grace.
It measures your worth by your output instead of your heart.

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✨ The Shift That Changes Everything

Here’s a small shift that can change your mindset instantly:

Replace should with choose.

“I should work out” → “I choose to move my body because it makes me feel strong.”
“I should spend more time with my family” → “I choose to be present because it matters to me.”
“I should rest” → “I choose rest because I need it.”

See how that feels different?
The pressure disappears. The control comes back to you.

When you swap should for choose, you move from guilt to intention.
You start making decisions from love, not fear.

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💗 A Simple Practice

This week, try this gentle exercise:

1. Write down three “should” statements you tell yourself often.
2. Rewrite each one beginning with “I choose,” “I want,” or “I get to.”
3. Read them out loud. Feel how the energy shifts from obligation to empowerment.

Freedom doesn’t start with doing more — it starts with thinking differently.

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🌷 Final Thought

The next time that quiet whisper of “should” creeps in, pause and ask yourself:
“Who says?”

If the answer isn’t you, maybe it’s time to let that one go.

Because peace begins when you trade guilt for grace —
and start living from choice, not pressure.

With Love, Jen