Don’t SHOULD on yourself or others -Sarah Coleman

How many times have you said to yourself:

I SHOULD be a better parent

I SHOULD like yoga

I SHOULD be able to do 10 push-ups

I SHOULD be better friend

I SHOULD eat healthier

I SHOULD …

 Here is the actual dictionary definition of SHOULD:  used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness, typically when criticizing someone's actions.

 We often have expectations of ourselves that define who we are (or rather who we think we SHOULD be or do).  This can happen in lots of ways – our own ego, our thoughts on how others see us or how we wish they saw us, our roles and how we define them, our comparison to others, and so on. Stop and take a minute to be curious about how this might play out in your own life.

 How about this, let’s try not to SHOULD on ourselves anymore! Here are a few tips to consider:

1.     Accept that right where you are in exactly where you are supposed to be.

2.     Try not to compare your success, yourself, your ANYTHING to other’s.

3.     Give yourself grace with your progress – in the gym, as a parent, at your job, in all the roles you fill.

4.     Find something to be grateful for - celebrate a small win, honor a job well done, or simply give yourself a fist bump to make you smile.

5.     Meet people, friends, coworkers, family where they are – dropping expectations for other’s and acknowledging that we may never know what battle someone else is facing.

This practice – yes, it takes practice is not super easy but it is quite simple. The act of removing the word SHOULD out of your thoughts and your words will end in a much more rewarding sense of self and actually takes some of the pressure off.

Remember that everyone is doing the best they can – don’t SHOULD on them either. Go ahead and practice – every time you use the word SHOULD, 10 burpees please!