About this episode
Simone explores how living by our shoulds and shouldn’ts shapes our experiences, especially in midlife, and invites listeners to question the origins of their rules.
In this episode, Simone explores how living by our shoulds and shouldn’ts quietly shapes the way we experience our lives - especially in midlife. She names the cultural moment we’re in: uncertainty, saturation, post-pandemic fatigue, and a nervous system that’s often hovering between fight, flight and freeze. From there, she unpacks how gripping tightly to what feels “safe” - our money, our work, our roles, our identities - can keep us stuck, even when we’re not truly happy. And how, in those moments, the inner dialogue of “I should…” and “I shouldn’t…” gets louder and more controlling. Simone invites you to question where your rules really come from, and whether they still feel true for who you are now. In this episode, we explore: • The collective freeze so many are feeling right now and why it’s not a personal failing but a nervous system response • The difference between healthy shoulds (aligned with your values and integrity) and pressure shoulds that keep you performing and people-pleasing • Where our shoulds come from: family expectations, school conditioning, gender roles, corporate culture, religion, social media and childhood survival strategies • How shouldn’ts act as…
People in this episode
Host: Simone
Topics covered
- nervous system
- inner dialogue
- cultural expectations
- menopause
- midlife
Keywords
- shoulds
- shouldn't
- personal growth
- self-identity
- emotional health
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Bali
More episodes of Living with Purpose
- The Cost of Over-Delivering (And What to Do Instead) · March 31, 2026 · 24 min
- When Your Old Identity No Longer Fits · February 18, 2026 · 28 min
- How to Digest Your Day · October 10, 2025 · 17 min
- Fake Productivity and What to do About It · September 1, 2025 · 18 min
- The Truth About Men’s Work with Skott Taylor · August 13, 2025 · 44 min
- How We Can Do Hard Things · June 24, 2025 · 18 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Living with Purpose podcast page.