Chapter 11

ON ‘SHOULD’ STATEMENTS

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EXERCISE 03 – “You should!”

A mirror confrontation exercise. By speaking your ‘should’ statements aloud in a stern voice, you’ll observe your emotional and physical reactions.

EXERCISE 04 – Free from my ‘should’ statements

A visualisation exercise imagining life without certain ‘shoulds’. You’ll explore emotional, cognitive and bodily responses to the idea of freedom.

EXERCISE 09 – Facing those who taught me my ‘should’ statements

An imagined confrontation exercise where you stand tall and speak freely to those associated with your ‘shoulds’, noticing shifts in identity and power.

EXERCISE 10 – “I will not!”

An assertiveness exercise countering ‘should’ statements with a strong, embodied “No!” to cultivate autonomy and emotional empowerment.