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Physician Daily · Monday, August 24, 2026
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Worksheet Sheet Thinking traps and unhelpful thoughts

The Rules You Live By

Find the rules you never agreed to, and see whether they still earn their place.

Purpose: Find the rules you never agreed to, and see whether they still earn their place.

When to use: Use this when you feel like you are failing at something nobody asked of you.

Worksheet prompts

  1. Write down three of your rules.
    Start each one with I should, I have to, or I must.
  2. Where did the loudest one come from? Who taught it to you?
  3. What happens inside you when you break it?
  4. How would you rewrite it so it fits the life you have now?
    Try: I would like to… or It helps when I…

A rule you can look at is a rule you get some say in.