Radio Headspace How to Let Go of Everyone Else’s Expectations
Nov 11, 2025
Dive into the struggle of living up to societal 'shoulds' that shape our choices. Learn how mindfulness helps identify and release these external expectations. Discover the concept of 'should surveillance' to question who sets your standards. A hilarious personal confession illustrates the pressure of maintaining imposed standards. Transform 'I should' into 'I could' with a practical self-audit. Finally, embrace the freedom to follow your own values and reject the expectations of others.
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Grocery-Store Realization
- Dora describes a grocery-store moment where she judged herself for buying frozen plant-based nuggets and laughed at her own shame.
- That moment sparked her realization that 'shoulds' had been running her life and causing unnecessary self-judgment.
The 'Should' Dictator
- Dora frames the word 'should' as a tiny dictator in our heads that weights us down and obscures our true wants.
- She notes many 'shoulds' are inherited from parents, society, and social media, not self-chosen values.
Friend's Question Changed Everything
- Dora shares a turning-point conversation with a friend who challenged her urge to be more like an extrovert.
- The friend's question, 'Who told you that you should be more like me?', helped Dora reclaim her personality.