Changeology

Changeology Clinic: The Silent Saboteurs: How "Shoulds" Derail Your Growth

Meg Trucano, Ph.D.

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In this episode of the Changeology podcast, I’m walking you through one of the most persistent—and insidious—roadblocks I see in my work with women navigating big life or career changes: the SHOULDs.

These aren’t just annoying expectations or to-do list items. They’re internalized stories that dictate how we think, behave, and make decisions—without our conscious consent. In this solo episode, I unpack what Shoulds really are, where they come from, and why they hold so much power over us. I also walk you through a three-step coaching exercise to help you identify, explore, and reclaim your authority over the SHOULDs running your life on autopilot.

Whether you’re stuck in a job that no longer fits, people-pleasing your way through burnout, or second-guessing every decision you make as a parent, this episode offers both insight and action steps to help you start clearing the weeds.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🌟 Why “I should…” statements are often a sign of unconscious programming, not actual values
 🌟 The three types of SHOULDs—and how they quietly influence your choices
 🌟 How to identify the weeds in your mental garden (and what it takes to clear them out)
 🌟 A journaling-based coaching exercise to help you keep the shoulds that serve you—and ditch the ones that don’t

If you want support dismantling the stories that no longer serve you—and designing a life that actually does—check the show notes for info about working together 1:1.

START HERE: The Personal Change Pattern Assessment

Discover the unique psychological pattern keeping you stuck in the same status quo. In under 5 minutes, you’ll see which psychological patterns most often keep you stuck—overthinking, over-adapting, second-guessing—so you can choose your next move with accuracy.

***FED Impact Coaching***

Coaching for current or former employees in federal or adjacent fields whose roles, identity, or sense of stability have been disrupted by government restructuring.

***The REAL Change Kickstart (45-Day 1:1 Intensive)***

For women who know something needs to change and are ready to stop circling the decision.

***The REALignment Private Coaching Experience (3 or 6 Months)***

For women already mid-transition who want support integrating change in every aspect of their lives, not just initiating it.

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