Ep 103: From Should to Could - An Episode in the Mindfulness Moments Series, with Dr. Michelle Quirk

How often do you hear the word should in your own head?

I should go for my run.I should run farther.I should be faster.I should answer those emails.I should finish my notes.I should spend more time with my family.I should make more time for myself.I should be able to handle this.I should be doing more.I should be doing better.

For women physicians and other high-achieving women, the list of "shoulds" can feel endless.

In this Mindfulness Moments episode, we're exploring what happens when we replace should with could.

"Should" can sound like a rule. It can leave very little room for curiosity, compassion, or choice. But "could" creates an opening.

I could go for a run.I could take a rest day.I could ask for help.I could choose one thing that matters most today.I could make some space for myself.

The goal isn't to eliminate responsibility or always choose the easiest option. It's to pause long enough to make a choice rather than automatically obeying every "should" our brains offer us.

In this episode, I'll guide you through a short mindfulness practice to help you notice your own "shoulds," soften the language, and ask, What would support me today?

In this episode:

Why "should" can be such an exhausting word

The difference between "should" and "could"

How productivity and achievement can make it difficult to tolerate blank space