I was reminded this morning that we are 'doing' machines. Knowing my life can be better, knowing health is important, knowing what other people do, and many other things prompt feelings of 'should'.

I feel I 'should' do some thing. I feel I 'should' be a certain way. 

Even as a coach, I know this not to be true even when the quality of the doing or being is preferrable. It is not the thing or the way is the problem. It is the attitude and the burden of that expectation. 'Should' is so heavy and so judgemental.

Knowing this, I still catch myself saying 'should' occasionally. Preferably and consistently however, I just intend to 'do' or 'be' in the way that I choose. I give myself permission to fail. 'Being' and 'Doing' come more naturally, even though the change is slow. The 'should' is replaced with 'will be' or 'will do' and if I don't succeed today, that's okay. The 'should' hasn't been given the power and weight to burden me with the guilt. Tomorrow, the intention of 'being' and 'doing' remain the same.