Thou Shalt Not Should Thyself (Anonymous)

Each of us has a set of rules, some would say commandments, that we live by. This is one I need to add to my list. When you think about it there is so much sense to it.

Every day we seem to be faced with activities we want to do and activities we should do. It's easy to do the "want to" activities. The "should do's" are more difficult. "Should do's" often come from other people. Parents, friends, superiors or society. They're not our own ideas or desires. That's what makes them so difficult to fulfill. "Want to's" are really positive messages to ourselves. They are self-motivating and we are better at fulfilling them. A life full of "want to's" is better than a life of "should do's".

But how do we get to that better life? Listen to yourself and determine where all the "should do's" are coming from. Stop being angry if you are following unwanted paths determined by others. If the "should do" is coming from yourself it is really a "want to". You won't regret or miss what others thought you "should" have done.