Turning that ‘should’ into a ‘could’

Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

We have no shortage of “shoulds” swirling around in our brains at any moment in time…

I should go to the grocery store.

I should spend less now and save more.

I should pick up the kids from school.

Ok, so that last one is probably more of a “must” than a “should.” 🙂

And let’s not forget about the guilt we feel around these “shoulds.”

One way to relieve that sense of guilt and start making more conscious and personalized choices in your life is to turn your list of “shoulds” into “coulds.”

For example..

I could go to the grocery store.

I could spend less now and save more.

Now, ask yourself the following question…

What if I DIDN’T?

If I skip the grocery store, I’ll need to get takeout for dinner tonight.

If I spend more now and save less, I might be shortchanging my future self.

Going from should to could is a great exercise to help you identify where you might be making the default choice without even realizing it. And the “shoulds” you’ve been defaulting into might not be the best choice for you personally once you see them through the lens of “coulds.”

So whenever you feel like the “shoulds” are taking over your life, take a moment and turn them into “coulds.” It’s a quick and easy way to regain a sense of control and start to make more intentional choices in your life that are uniquely meant to serve you best.