How to let go of shoulds when they’re all you’ve ever known.
You’ve been carrying too many “shoulds.”
Of who you should be.
Of how you should live.
Of timelines you should follow.
But maybe…
no one ever asked if those rules were yours.
Some “shoulds” were whispered by people
who never truly saw you.
Some were born from fear—
not love.
If you’re learning how to let go of shoulds,
maybe the first step isn’t to rewrite your life.
Maybe it’s simply to loosen your grip—
not on your dreams,
but on the pressure to prove you’ve earned them.
Why the “Shoulds” Feel So Heavy
The weight of “should” doesn’t come from the action.
It comes from the fear of what happens
if you don’t.
Letting go doesn’t mean giving up.
It means learning to trust
that your life gets to follow your shape,
not someone else’s outline.
That’s how to let go of shoulds
without losing yourself in the process.
Try This Gentle Practice
Choose one “should”
that’s been echoing in your mind lately.
Say it out loud.
Then gently say:
“I am allowed to do things differently.”
Even that is enough.
One Last Thought
You don’t have to prove you’re enough
by following rules that were never yours.
🕊️ Begin your own quiet return with our 3-day free journal sample.
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📖 This is Day 9 of the 30-day journal: The Gentle Work.
If you’re ready to loosen what no longer fits, the full journey is waiting.
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👉 If you missed Day 8, read I How to Begin Healing by Listening to What Still Hurts
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🌐 The Power of Vulnerability – Verywell Mind