BY: MEGAN DRAKE
Do you have a word that haunts you? A word that circles around your mind that you can’t seem to get rid of? I do. This word pops up in my head at the most random of times, all the time. When I am relaxing, having fun, working, writing, exercising.
All. The. Time.
Should.
This is the word that haunts me. That tells me I am not enough where I am. The word that not only beckons for more, but demands more.
Why does this word have so much power over me?
I should look harder for a job.
I should workout more.
I should make my resume more kick ass.
I should make my quiet time with God longer.
I should be thinner.
I should be married by now. If not, I should be doing something exciting.
I should enjoy singleness.
I should be more content.
I should write more.
I should dance more often and sing loudly.
I should be more carefree.
I should enjoy unemployment. I should read instead of watching The Bachelor.
Should steals something from me. It keeps me from being present and engaged in the moment. It steals my wholeness, makes me believe that who I am right now is not enough.
Should is a lie. Should comes into your life and destroys the time spent in the present. It destroys jamming out to T-Swift and J Biebs. It destroys putting the talents God has given you to work. It makes you believe you ought to be doing something other than what you are doing.
The truth is, I am enough. You are enough. And some days are to be productive, run 3 miles and get work done, others are for fun-tivities like dancing in the kitchen and watching football all Sunday. But wherever you are, be fully you. Don’t let should dictate who you are to be.
I want to stop should-ing on myself so much. To give myself a break and allow myself to embrace who I am and not allow this word to tell how I spend my days, how I spend my life.
Don’t feel guilty for being you. Don’t give into the pressure to change who you are. Don’t should on yourself.
All. The. Time.
Should.
This is the word that haunts me. That tells me I am not enough where I am. The word that not only beckons for more, but demands more.
Why does this word have so much power over me?
I should look harder for a job.
I should workout more.
I should make my resume more kick ass.
I should make my quiet time with God longer.
I should be thinner.
I should be married by now. If not, I should be doing something exciting.
I should enjoy singleness.
I should be more content.
I should write more.
I should dance more often and sing loudly.
I should be more carefree.
I should enjoy unemployment. I should read instead of watching The Bachelor.
Should steals something from me. It keeps me from being present and engaged in the moment. It steals my wholeness, makes me believe that who I am right now is not enough.
Should is a lie. Should comes into your life and destroys the time spent in the present. It destroys jamming out to T-Swift and J Biebs. It destroys putting the talents God has given you to work. It makes you believe you ought to be doing something other than what you are doing.
The truth is, I am enough. You are enough. And some days are to be productive, run 3 miles and get work done, others are for fun-tivities like dancing in the kitchen and watching football all Sunday. But wherever you are, be fully you. Don’t let should dictate who you are to be.
I want to stop should-ing on myself so much. To give myself a break and allow myself to embrace who I am and not allow this word to tell how I spend my days, how I spend my life.
Don’t feel guilty for being you. Don’t give into the pressure to change who you are. Don’t should on yourself.