You can > You should

“You should” often suppresses a lot of “You can”

You should be like this to be successful.
You should write like this to be visible.
You should do this to get engagement.

In an attempt to sound assertive and position themselves as experts, people overuse “should.”

But most people consuming that content don’t realize it’s just a way to sound authoritative. They assume that’s the only way.

“Only if I do this, I’ll get that.”

Instead of looking at the resources they already have, they conclude, “It’s not for me.”

They stand before endless open doors, yet they close them all when guided toward just one, the one others claim is the only path to success.

I have huge respect for people who say, “This worked for me. Your path might be completely different.”

Sharing what worked for us is great. But making people believe they must follow a specific way to succeed?

It might sound great as a hook. It might even get huge engagement.

But in reality, it creates insecurity.

And if you think about it, maybe some of our insecurities exist because of all the “shoulds” imposed on us. Unconsciously.

And do you really think there’s only one way?

I’ve seen:

Actors who don’t fit the industry’s beauty standards become stars.
Writers who are painfully shy become renowned authors.
And Steve Jobs? Well, we already know his story

When we replace “should” with “can,” we open up choices.

I can choose this path too.
I can do it differently.
I can find my own way.

“Should” takes away options.
“Can” creates them.

Again, This is just my take. When I consume content, I feel this way. You might not.

Your perspective might be completely different.

Figure it out for yourself.