In our last Grease for the Gears, we introduced you to the Shoulds  - the beliefs we have about what we should or should not do. Today we are going to look at a great way to evaluate our Shoulds to see if they serve us or not. 
First, let’s talk a little more about Shoulds and where they come from. Shoulds are not inherently good or bad.  Actually they can make our lives much more manageable by sorting information and making certain decisions for us without taking up our conscious thinking time that we need for other activities.  

 

Yet, Shoulds can also sneak up on us.  Because they are beliefs we have “adopted” and they are primarily unconscious, they often function as an internal autopilot that determines our direction and actions without us being aware of it.  

 

Hmmm…. this makes me wonder. How much of what we do on a daily basis is determined by our Shoulds? And how do we know when we are operating on our Should autopilot?  

 

Actually, it is easier than you think!  Even though our Shoulds are mostly unconscious, they are also very literal! To become aware when you are under the influence of a Should, listen to what you say and what you are thinking. If we listen, Shoulds clearly identify themselves by actually using the word should or shouldn’t in their instructions to us. 

 

Now, here’s how you can use the literal nature of the Shoulds to help you evaluate them and determine if any particular Should serves you and matches up with who you are here and now.  

 

When you hear yourself saying (or thinking) I should or I shouldn’t… STOP and ask yourself this question… 

 

“Whose voice is that anyway?” 

 

Why is this a good question?  Somewhere, sometime, someone taught you this Should. They probably said this Should over and over to you– essentially downloading their beliefs from their autopilot to yours.

   

But, what worked for them may be holding you back from living your definition of success. 

 

Once you identify a Should, you can decide if it reflects your voice – or somebody else’s. 

 

When you evaluate what’s in your autopilot and consciously choose your beliefs, you will be amazed at how what you prefer to create and your results line up much more quickly and easily. 

 

Just Imagine That!Â