[Scene: Two friends, Alex and Jamie, are sitting in a cozy coffee shop, their favorite meeting spot to catch up on life. Alex is a high-achiever, always juggling a million things, and Jamie has a knack for asking the kinds of questions that make Alex pause and think.]
Jamie: You look wiped out, Alex. What’s going on?
Alex: (sighs) The usual chaos. Work is non-stop, I’m juggling a million things, and honestly, I feel like I’m stuck on a treadmill and I can’t get off.
Jamie: A treadmill, huh? Where’s it taking you?
Alex: (shrugs) To the place where I’m doing all the things I’m supposed to do. Crushing it at work, hustling for that next promotion, maintaining this perfect image, staying fit, being there for everyone… you know, the whole checklist. (pauses) It’s what you’re supposed to do, right?
Jamie: Supposed to… according to who?
Alex: (hesitates) I don’t know. Everyone? Society? My parents? Myself?
Jamie: So, you’re living life through the lens of “should.”
Alex: (raises an eyebrow) What are you getting at?
Jamie: Think about it. You just rattled off a list of things you think you’re “supposed” to do because some else said so. But have you ever asked yourself if they’re things you actually want?
Alex: (leans back, sipping coffee) Not really. I’ve been so focused on chasing those markers of success that I’ve never stopped to figure out if they’re mine or someone else’s.
Jamie: Exactly. Living life through the lens of “the shoulds” is like giving away the pen to your life story. Someone else ends up writing the script while you’re just along for the ride.
Alex: (nods) That’s… unsettling. But it makes sense. It’s like I’m on autopilot, following a script I never chose. So, what now? Just stop everything?
Jamie: Not stop— instead, pause. Zoom out and ask yourself: What actually matters to you? What’s your vision? If you could ditch all the “shoulds” and focus on what genuinely lights you up, what would your story look like?
Alex: (laughs) Easier said than done. The pressure to keep up is everywhere.
Jamie: Totally. But here’s the thing—you have a choice. It’s not about ignoring the pressure; it’s about choosing whose voice gets the final say. Is it going to be the voice of “expectations” or your own?
Alex: (smiling faintly) I’ve been so wrapped up in the “shoulds” that I forgot I have the power to write my own script.
Jamie: Exactly. You’re not stuck, Alex. You’re just stuck in someone else’s story. But you can choose to flip that narrative anytime. It takes practice to shift that lens, but imagine how freeing it would feel to live by your own design.
Alex: (smiling) Not my comfort zone, but also kind of exciting. Okay, how do I start?
Jamie: Start small. When you’re faced with a decision, ask yourself: Am I doing this because it resonates with me or because I think I “should”? If it’s the latter, pause and rethink. Start paying attention to what genuinely feels right to you, and over time, that voice will get louder than the noise around you. And sure, sometimes life deals you a hand you may not enjoy, and in those moments, pause and ask yourself, 'what about this is important to me?' Even those moments will become more purposeful.
Alex: (grinning) Sounds like a plan. Thanks for always snapping me out of autopilot.
Jamie: Anytime. That’s what friends are for. Now, let’s finish these coffees before they’re ice-cold—and maybe, let’s map out your first “should-free” day?
Alex: (laughs) Deal.
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