Amen brother! I have an acupuncturist(I know..woo woo) that has always cautioned me about "supposed to" and "should". Here are some thoughts that support your wonderful post. he
There’s a quiet trap built into the words “supposed to” and “should.” On the surface, they sound like guidance — like directional signs intended to keep us aligned. But dig a little deeper, and they often reveal themselves as chains. Heavy ones.
"I should be further along."
"I’m supposed to do it this way."
"They should know better."
"We’re supposed to act like this."
These phrases are rarely rooted in truth. They’re usually rooted in expectations, projections, or inherited scripts that no longer serve us. They quietly demand compliance without offering clarity. They pressure us into comparison, conformity, or guilt, without examining whether the direction actually fits our context, values, or goals.
"Should" often masquerades as wisdom, but it’s really just judgment with a better outfit.
When we blindly follow the “supposed to” path, we risk:
Prioritizing others’ standards over our own principles
Chasing approval instead of progress
Letting fear of deviation override authentic creativity and innovation
This doesn’t mean we discard discipline, norms, or accountability — but rather that we interrogate them. Ask: Does this “should” align with who I am, where I’m going, and what actually matters right now?
Progress isn’t about doing what you’re “supposed to.” It’s about doing what’s true, useful, and deliberate — even if that looks different from the well-worn path.
So next time you catch yourself saying “should” or “supposed to,” pause. Challenge it. Replace it with a more honest question:
What’s actually right for me — here, now, with what I know and what I value?
That’s where real alignment — and real growth — begins.
Amen brother! I have an acupuncturist(I know..woo woo) that has always cautioned me about "supposed to" and "should". Here are some thoughts that support your wonderful post. he
There’s a quiet trap built into the words “supposed to” and “should.” On the surface, they sound like guidance — like directional signs intended to keep us aligned. But dig a little deeper, and they often reveal themselves as chains. Heavy ones.
"I should be further along."
"I’m supposed to do it this way."
"They should know better."
"We’re supposed to act like this."
These phrases are rarely rooted in truth. They’re usually rooted in expectations, projections, or inherited scripts that no longer serve us. They quietly demand compliance without offering clarity. They pressure us into comparison, conformity, or guilt, without examining whether the direction actually fits our context, values, or goals.
"Should" often masquerades as wisdom, but it’s really just judgment with a better outfit.
When we blindly follow the “supposed to” path, we risk:
Prioritizing others’ standards over our own principles
Chasing approval instead of progress
Letting fear of deviation override authentic creativity and innovation
This doesn’t mean we discard discipline, norms, or accountability — but rather that we interrogate them. Ask: Does this “should” align with who I am, where I’m going, and what actually matters right now?
Progress isn’t about doing what you’re “supposed to.” It’s about doing what’s true, useful, and deliberate — even if that looks different from the well-worn path.
So next time you catch yourself saying “should” or “supposed to,” pause. Challenge it. Replace it with a more honest question:
What’s actually right for me — here, now, with what I know and what I value?
That’s where real alignment — and real growth — begins.
Excellent stuff Aaron!