I should have cleaned up the house today.

I should have spent less time this week watching mindless television with my husband.

Dammit, I should have exercised this morning because then my brain would have worked better and then I definitely would have cleaned up the house which I really should have.

I should have have woken up earlier and then I would have cleaned the house.

I should have been smarter about it.

I should have planned better for it.

I should, I should, I should, I should, should should should should, could could, would would, blah blah blah blah blaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…

Is this you?

Do you allow yourself to get sucked up by The Shoulds just like a little, bottom of the barrel sea fish that gets violently swallowed by a terrorizing shark?

If the answer is yes, then do yourself a favor:  Knock it off….NOW.

Seriously people, you need to cleanse yourself of The Shoulds because THEY DO NOTHING FOR YOU except keep you from actually living your life.  Think of some sadistic, abusive “thing”  living in your house rent free….clearly, that would be wrong – beyond.  Well my friends…so are The Shoulds.

So maybe this new year is the year to just dump those parasite, blood sucking shoulds.

P.S. – If you really want to take my advice to a whole “therapy-esque” level, then ask yourself this:   Who in your family passed The Shoulds down to lucky you?  Because just like criticism is a learned behavior, so are The Shoulds.

Ucchhh…just get rid of them already.

image via newspaper.li/finding-nemo/