Use your V.O.I.C.E.

🚨🚨 Don't let "shoulds" hijack your purpose. "I should" is a red flag - a sign of actions we feel obligated to take, not those we're passionate about or believe in.

"I should" means you're operating on autopilot, driven by external expectations or internal pressures rather than your authentic desires and values. Shoulds can pile up and block the view to your true path.

Here's a way to transform "I should" into empowering statements of belief, desire, and values: use your V.O.I.C.E

V - Validate: Acknowledge the feeling behind the "I should" statement without judgment. This step is crucial for understanding the motivation driving this sense of obligation.

O - Open: Open yourself to what you truly want. Replace "I should" with "What do I actually want to do?" or "What do I believe is right?"

I - Identify: Identify the underlying values or emotions prompting the "should." Is it driven by fear, genuine interest, external pressure, or something else?

C - Choose: Make a conscious choice based on your authentic desires, beliefs, and values. This step involves transitioning from "I should" to "I choose to because..."

E - Engage: Take action aligned with your "I believe," "I want," "I feel," or "I value" statement. Engage in behaviors that reflect your true self, not out of obligation but from genuine alignment with your personal values and desires.

For example, if you find yourself thinking, "I should network more," but the idea drains you, see where VOICE gets you. Perhaps what you want is meaningful connections, not just more contacts. So, you choose to engage in smaller, more intimate professional gatherings that feel authentic and fulfilling.

🗣 Using VOICE can ensure your decisions are guided by what truly matters to you and a life filled with actions that reflect your core beliefs and desires.

(Originally published on LinkedIn)