18 February 2021
Caroline Myss once said that each word is a tiny universe unto itself. She’s right. Words have so much more depth than just their surface meaning. One of the words I could probably do without is the word, “should.” There are so many instances in my life when I think, “Oh, I should be doing this, or I should be doing that.” It’s even worse if we tell others what they should and shouldn’t do! In thinking about the universe of the word “should,” it’s a vast and complex universe, but riddled with negative energy and potential drama. The realm of “should” has implications of guilt; feelings of shame; and a desecration of the present moment.
Today, notice the weighty pressure of the word “should.” Notice how it can shame you into thinking that somehow, you are not good enough to measure up to some “other” reality of past or future. “Should” only denies the sanctity of “is.” “Should” covers the present moment in a veil of shame and condemnation. “Should” makes you devalue who you are in the context of your current situation. That’s rubbish! The only way to erase the power of “should” is the increase the power of now. You can change, in an instant, and do things that make your “should-haves” into productive, joyful, and thoughtful activities that you can be proud of – right now. Erase “should” from your vocabulary and focus on the quality of your actions, in the present moment, and do everything with joy today. If you are fulfilling the purpose of THIS moment, with devotion, diligence, and peace, the guilt of “should” will lift, and the clarity of “is” will bring you renewed vigor and a zest for life’s simple things! Erase “should” from your vocabulary, and the guilt you place on yourself will vanish like a puff of smoke.
This one! Good stuff!