Why the Word "Should" Will Keep You Stuck in 2026
Embrace Your Real
Julie Ledbetter
5.0 • 982 Ratings
🗓️ 22 January 2026
⏱️ 10 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This episode is for you if the start of a new year has brought up quiet pressure instead of clarity. If thoughts like "I should be further along," "I should be doing more," or "I should want this by now" keep looping in your head, this conversation is meant for you. Those thoughts rarely feel motivating. They usually feel heavy, discouraging, and disconnecting, even when you are genuinely trying.
In this episode, I walk you through why the word "should" tends to show up so strongly during transitions like a new year, and how it quietly pulls you into comparison, unrealistic expectations, and self-doubt. We talk about where those thoughts actually come from, how they affect your relationship with your body and your goals, and how to begin choosing habits and directions that feel supportive instead of draining. This is about moving into 2026 with more self-trust, clarity, and intention.
Here is what you will learn:
• Why "should" is often rooted in external expectations
• How living by obligation creates constant self-criticism
• Why "should" disconnects you from what you truly want
• How your body signals when something feels misaligned
• How shifting your language can change how you show up
If this episode resonated, you may also enjoy:
Episode 90: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your New Years Resolution
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, hey, beautiful human. Can I steal five minutes of your time? I have something super important to share with you, but I promise I'll be really quick. You're listening to my weekly bonus episode of Embrace Your Real with me, Julie Labbetter. I'm about to give you a quick tip for building your confidence, honoring your body, and unconditionally loving your authentic self. Stay tuned. If you're ready to embrace a real. Let's get it. Let's go. |
| 0:27.2 | Hello and welcome back to another bonus episode. Let me ask you something before we get started. As we step into this new |
| 0:39.4 | year in 2026, have you noticed how quickly those old thoughts try to sneak back in? Like thoughts like, |
| 0:45.2 | man, I really should be further along by now, or I should be doing better, or I should want this, |
| 0:50.1 | but I don't. And instead of those thoughts motivating you, they just leave you feeling heavy, |
| 0:54.7 | feeling frustrated, or just like you're already behind before the year has already even begun, |
| 1:00.4 | even though you're genuinely trying. If that sounds familiar, this bonus episode is a special |
| 1:05.8 | for you. As we move into 2026, I really want to be clear about something continuing to lead your life |
| 1:12.3 | with the word should is not how you're going to set yourself up for success in this new year. |
| 1:17.0 | It's not about how you build consistency, confidence, or self-trust, right? |
| 1:21.3 | And it is definitely not how you are going to create a relationship with your body and your |
| 1:25.4 | goals that feel supportive and sustainable. |
| 1:32.6 | Should might sound responsible on this surface, over time it really does disconnect you from yourself and it keeps you stuck in this comparison pressure and having these unrealistic expectations |
| 1:38.1 | it quietly convinces you that whatever you're doing right now is just never quite enough |
| 1:43.2 | and that is not the energy |
| 1:44.7 | that we are going to be bringing in 2026. So I'm going to be giving you this big sister talk, |
| 1:49.1 | okay? Or even if I'm younger than you, I'm just giving you a sister to sister talk. And so in today's |
| 1:54.7 | bonus episode, I really just want to walk you through a few important reminders that will help |
| 1:59.1 | you recognize when should is running the show of |
| 2:01.7 | your life and why it feels so draining and how you can begin making choices that actually support |
| 2:07.3 | you as you move into this next season with more clarity, with more confidence, and with more |
| 2:11.5 | intention. All right, I'm just going to dive right into it. Number one, most of the time, |
... |
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