What tasks or activities do you have to do today? What do you have to do tomorrow? Is there actually anything that you "have to" do? What if you had a choice...
? Most people tend to use the words "have to", "must" or "should" far too much.
We say that we "have to" go to work, "have to" pick up the kids from school, "have to" pay the bills etc.
But do truly "have to" do these things? Are we forced to do them? Who decides what you have to do? In fact, there is nothing that you have to do - NOTHING! You are the only person in your life who decides what you will do.
Everything that you do is a choice.
You choose to do things, even when these are things that you do not necessarily enjoy doing.
You don't have to go to work, but you can choose to do it because you want money.
You don't have to pick up the kids from school, but you can choose to do it because you want to be a good parent.
You don't have to pay the bills, but you can choose to it because you don't want the enforcement officer to come and throw you out from your house.
What happens when you use the word "choose" instead of "have to"? Most likely you would feel more inspired to do the task that you have chosen to do.
You will probably feel more in control of your life rather than being a passive victim.
Perhaps you will also feel like there is a greater meaning in what you do and that you get something positive out of it (such as feeling like a good parent when you pick up your kids).
The positive consequences of thinking in terms of "I choose" rather than "I have to" are unlimited.
Next time you catch yourself thinking or saying "I have to", stop for a moment and change it into "I choose to".
Liv Miyagawa - The Self-Esteem Coach