Breaking Free from 'Should' (Part 2): Embracing Motivation That Works

In Part 1 of "Stop Shoulding", we explored how The Hero, The Explorer, The Sage, and The Maverick break free from the weight of "should" and embrace more empowering, self-aligned motivation. Now, let’s dive deeper into four more archetypes—The Creator, The Caregiver, The Ruler, and The Jester—and how they can reframe their mindset for true progress.

🎨 The Creator: Should stifles creativity. It boxes you in and makes every task feel like a chore rather than an expression of your vision. Instead of saying I should be more productive, shift to It would be helpful if I created space for inspiration and allowed my ideas to flow naturally. Your best work doesn’t come from obligation—it comes from inspiration.

💖 The Caregiver: You’re naturally driven by compassion, but should often leads to burnout. You don’t have to pour from an empty cup. Instead of I should always be available for others, try It would be helpful if I set healthy boundaries so I can support others without sacrificing myself. Giving from a place of balance makes your kindness more sustainable.

👑 The Royal: You thrive on structure and control, but should can make even the most confident leader feel trapped by external expectations. Instead of I should do everything myself to maintain control, reframe it as It would be helpful if I delegated tasks that free up my time for higher-level strategy. True leadership isn’t about doing it all—it’s about directing with wisdom.

😂 The Entertainer: Life is meant to be enjoyed, but should can drain the fun out of everything. If you find yourself thinking I should take things more seriously, ask yourself why. Instead, try It would be helpful if I found ways to infuse joy into my responsibilities. Productivity and playfulness aren’t opposites—they can work together to make life more fulfilling.

The way we frame our thoughts determines our experience. By replacing should with helpful if, we step into a mindset that fuels motivation, aligns with our strengths, and makes growth feel exciting rather than burdensome. Try it—your future self will thank you. 🚀