3. The 3 'shoulds' keeping you stuck and how to move past them

Successful On Paper · Jun 25, 2026 · 8m

If you're feeling unhappy at work but keep talking yourself out of it, this episode is for you.

I unpick three phrases I hear all the time from men in their 40s and 50s:

I should be grateful.

I should be responsible.

I should have this all figured out by now.

On the surface they sound sensible, maybe even innocent. But they’re more dangerous than you think as they keep you stuck, disconnected and afraid to admit that something isn't working anymore.

I explore why these beliefs are so common, how they show up in the men I coach and why they're often driven by guilt, fear and unrealistic…