Are you constantly telling yourself, “I should (fill in the blank)?” I should exercise more. I should drink more water. I should eat less sugar. I should save money instead of buying things I don’t need. I should study my Bible more.
You get the drift. How can we avoid this constant struggle where we “should all over ourselves”?
Well, if there is something in your life you know will take you closer to where you want to be, then make the decision to do it and stop “should-ing.”
Playing the “Should Game” expends valuable energy. When you become a “should-head,” it takes more energy to decide to do something than to actually do it.
Instead of asking “Should I?”, ask “How will I?”. For example, you could say, “I know exercising will help me be the person I want to be. How will I fit that into my schedule?” Notice the difference between that statement and the statement, “I should get up tomorrow and exercise.” The “how question” is more empowering than the “should statement”.
“Should statements” trigger judgment and self-criticism. “How questions”, however, shift the focus from judgment to exploration, solution-seeking, and openness to options.
So, once you’ve decided what you want (what will take you closer to where you want to be), ask yourself, “How will I make this happen?”. This simple question will open more opportunities than you could ever imagine.
I wish you a “should-free” day!
