Who Are You Underneath the “Shoulds”?
We are born whole.
Wild. Soft. Fierce. Untamed.
And then—little by little—we are taught who we “should” be.
Be polite.
Don’t be too loud.
Don’t be too emotional.
Don’t be too much.
Smile. Stay busy. Work harder. Be grateful.
Those “shoulds” weave themselves into the fabric of our lives until we can’t tell where they end and we begin. We put on the masks. We learn the roles. We shape ourselves to fit expectations—until one day, we wake up and wonder…
Who am I underneath it all?
The Womb Holds the Answer
Your womb is more than a physical organ. She is your energetic center—your creative well, your intuitive compass, your deepest archive.
Every time you swallowed your truth,
Every time you pushed your needs aside,
Every time you chose survival over authenticity…
Your womb remembered.
She holds the stories of the woman you were before the “shoulds.”
She holds the grief of the parts you’ve hidden away.
She holds the longing of the parts you’ve silenced.
And here’s the truth: she’s not holding them to punish you. She’s holding them so you can find your way back.
Listening Beneath the Noise
The mind is loud. It speaks in to-do lists, fears, and logic.
The womb is quiet. She speaks in feelings, sensations, and whispers.
To connect with the woman beneath the “shoulds,” you have to soften into her voice.
You can start here:
Place your hands over your womb space—just below your navel.
Close your eyes and take three slow, deep breaths.
Ask her: What have you been holding for me?
Be willing to hear whatever comes—an image, a memory, a sensation, or even silence.
Sometimes the first answer is grief. Sometimes it’s a surge of longing. Sometimes it’s just stillness. All of it is welcome.
The Woman Beneath
When you listen to your womb, you begin to meet the woman beneath the masks:
The one who danced before she was told how to look.
The one who spoke freely before she was told to be quiet.
The one who wanted more before she was told she should be satisfied.
She has always been there. She has been waiting for you to come back.
A Gentle Invitation
This week, give yourself space to notice when a “should” is running your choices. Ask yourself:
Is this truly mine, or did someone hand this to me?
If I could set down this ‘should,’ what would I choose instead?
Bring those answers to your womb. Let her hold them with you. Let her guide you back—not just to who you were—but to who you are becoming.
Because underneath the “shoulds” is not an empty space.
It’s the home of your wholeness.
It’s where your rebirth begins.
XOXO-
Jennifer