Should vs. Must: Who's Running Your Life?
How much of your life is shaped by what you should do?
And how often do you listen to that inner voice pushing you toward what you must do?
The Big Idea
Most of us operate under external expectations—family, society, tradition.
🚨 Rent? You’re throwing money away! Buy instead.
🚨 Quit your stable job for a creative degree? Are you crazy?
🚨 Take a two-month sabbatical? Wait until retirement!
The Shift
"Should" = external pressure.
"Must" = internal drive.
Author Elle Luna breaks this down in a powerful piece on choosing your musts.
Bonus: a 4-minute video if you're short on time.
Why It Matters
Many of my clients wrestle with this. I push them to rethink their “shoulds” and make space for their “musts.”
💡 True wealth isn’t just about money—it’s about designing a life that fits you.
💡 Exploring your “musts” in life is something I see as part of my fiduciary duty.
Your Turn
Are you living by shoulds or musts?
If you’re ready to talk, hit reply or leave a comment.
📖 Bonus Read: Morgan Housel on Independence
"When you're independent, you feel less desire to impress strangers—which can be an enormous financial and psychological cost."
Thanks for reading.
Until next Wednesday,
Russ