Do you often say to yourself that you 'Should' or you 'Must'? These are automatic thoughts that everyone experiences throughout life.
However, these thoughts can end up putting pressure on yourself to meet unrealistic expectations. If your expectations are too high it can impact on your mood and self-esteem.
"I should do more exercise." "I should get all this work done in a day." "I should be able to manage this."
Is there a more supportive way of thinking about the situation? "I should be able to manage this" - instead try -"I am trying my best".
Alternative phrases, such as 'I could....'; 'It would help if...' can reduce the pressure.
Explore the reason behind your comment. Changing "I should exercise more" to "It helps me when I exercise a couple of times in the week."
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