THE "MUST DO" PROGRAMME

There’s an internal construct that many of us unconsciously run—let’s call it the “MUST DO” program. It’s that little voice that says:

"I must finish everything before I can rest."

"I must accomplish something before I can feel worthy."

"I must be productive to feel valuable."

This is not discipline. This is conditioning. It’s an egoic program that ties our self-worth to external validation, convincing us that we must do in order to be. But the truth is: You are inherently worthy, even in stillness. Rest is not something you earn.Joy is not a reward for exhaustion.Your value does not decrease in moments of pause.Can you challenge this program today?

Can you allow yourself to feel enough, even when you're not “doing” something”?

It’s time to reprogram the mind.

Your worth is not measured by your output!

The "Must-Do" Program & Self-Worth

From early childhood, we internalize certain "musts"—messages from society, family, and personal experiences that dictate how we should behave, achieve, and show up in the world. This programming forms a rigid framework of expectations that we unconsciously measure ourselves against.

When we don’t meet these internalized expectations, we don’t just see it as failing at a task—we see ourselves as failures. Instead of separating our worth from our actions, the programming tells us that doing equals worth—so if we aren’t "doing" enough (or doing it right), we aren't enough.

For example:

If the program says, "I must always be productive," rest feels like laziness, and guilt creeps in.

If the program says, "I must please others," saying no feels like being unkind or selfish.

If the program says, "I must never make mistakes," then trying new things becomes paralyzing.

How This Affects Boundaries

The "must-do" program also interferes with our ability to set and maintain healthy boundaries. If our worth is tied to what we do for others or how much we achieve:

Saying "no" can feel like rejecting our own identity.

We may tolerate mistreatment or overextend ourselves just to keep up with expectations.

We might avoid conflict, fearing that setting boundaries will mean losing approval or love.

Impact on Decision-Making

Since this program shapes our self-worth, it also deeply influences how we make choices. Instead of making decisions based on what truly serves us, we filter them through what we believe we "should" do—often leading to:

Analysis paralysis: Fear of making the "wrong" choice because of perfectionist programming.

Self-sabotage: Avoiding decisions that would actually bring fulfillment because they don’t align with our ingrained "musts."

External validation seeking: Making choices to gain approval rather than following inner guidance.

Breaking the Cycle

Recognizing this programming is the first step to unraveling it. Once we see the "must-do" voices for what they are—external constructs rather than universal truths—we can start questioning them:

Who told me this must be true?

Is this belief serving me, or is it limiting me?

What would I choose if I weren’t afraid of how it would be perceived?

By actively challenging and reprogramming these beliefs, we free ourselves to make choices that are in alignment with our authentic selves—rather than ones dictated by outdated conditioning.