Stop “Should-ing” Yourself—Life’s Too Short for That

If I had the power to permanently ban a word from general usage, it would be “should.” A tiny word with enormous weight, “should” sneaks into conversations, advice, and inner dialogues like an overbearing life coach you never hired.

“You should eat healthier.”
“You should wake up early.”
“You should be more patient.”

Well, excuse me, but who made “should” the boss of me?

This word carries the heavy burden of societal expectations, guilt trips, and unsolicited opinions. It’s the linguistic equivalent of a judgmental eyebrow raise. As author Karen Salmansohn puts it, “Stop ‘should-ing’ yourself. Instead, start ‘choosing’ yourself.”

Imagine a world without “should.” You wouldn’t feel obligated to follow trends you despise, entertain toxic relationships, or force yourself into habits that don’t align with your true self. Instead of saying, “I should work out,” you’d say, “I want to stay active.” Feels better already, doesn’t it?

Mark Twain once said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” And guess what? Nowhere did he mention, “You should start.”

So, let’s toss “should” into the dustbin of history, right next to fax machines and dial-up internet.

A Thought to Ponder: What if, instead of “I should,” we asked, “Do I truly want to?” Maybe then, we’d live not out of obligation, but out of passion. And that, my friend, should—oops, could—change everything.