In this episode, recorded in early March before the COVID-19 crisis started keeping us at home, Janine and Shannon discuss one of their least favorite words, “should.”
Discussion topics include:
- Janine’s delight that her RootsTech talk is behind her and her admiration at how well organized RootsTech is
- How “shoulds” can weigh you down
- That should is one of Janine’s least favorite words, and one that she tries not to use with her clients
- How should can sneak into one’s self talk
- The judgmental, mean nature of the word should
- Thinking about words you can substitute for should
- The irony that people think that Shannon and Janine tell their clients what to do
- Recognizing resistance when you bristle at the word should
- Getting in touch with why something is important to you to get past resistance
- Allowing yourself to move forward with that information
- Newsflash: There are no bonus points for making something more difficult than it needs to be
- Letting go of preconceived ideas about the right way to do something
- Figuring out how you can get things done with as much ease as possible
- Editing the shoulds out of our to-do lists
- Choosing to do things rather than feeling you should do them
- Putting yourself back in a place of choice
I enjoyed this podcast. I get my back up when someone else says to me or I say to myself, “You should…” I usually try to turn that around and say it as, “I could…” It gives me choice, it gives me flexibility, and it’s a little bit playful.
Another thing I like to say is, “I get to…” rather than “I have to…” Works great for getting my activity in when I would rather not.