We Don’t Have to Keep Doing It This Way - The Rules You’re Allowed to Stop Following

How many rules are you still following that you never actually chose? Maybe you learned that family comes first no matter how they treat you. Maybe ending a decades-long friendship feels wrong simply because of your history together. Perhaps you've been taught that being exhausted means you're working hard enough, saying no makes you selfish, or keeping the peace is more important than speaking up. At some point, we have to ask ourselves: Do I actually believe this, or have I just been carrying it? In this episode of Brave Moves , I’m reflecting on a post I saw from Tiny Buddha about some of the things our generation has begun leaving behind. It made me think about how many expectations we inherit from our families, culture, workplaces, and communities without ever consciously deciding whether we want them. This isn't about blaming our parents or pretending our generation has everything figured out. They inherited their own set of rules, too. It's about recognizing that adulthood gives us the opportunity to decide what still belongs in our lives and what doesn't. Sometimes that means setting boundaries with family. It might mean allowing an old friendship to end or leaving a relationship that is hurting you. It can mean letting your children decide who gets access to their bodies instead of requiring affection because someone is a relative. And sometimes it's much simpler. You stop feeling guilty about resting. You say what you actually think. You make a career decision based on the life you want instead of the life someone else imagined for you. One of the hardest parts is that changing an old pattern can make other people uncomfortable, particularly when they benefited from the version of you who rarely said no. That doesn't automatically mean your new choice is wrong. Your Brave Move Ask yourself: What is one rule I'm still following that I never actually chose? Where did you learn it? Do you still believe it? And if you don't, what might change if you stopped organizing your life around it? You can appreciate where you came from without having to repeat everything you inherited. If you loved this episode, text me and let me know what you though. Support the show Why Isn't This Working? QUIZ Get $150 off your FACTOR Meal Plan . Brave Moves is a daily confidence and personal growth podcast for ambitious women, women entrepreneurs, and leaders who are ready to overcome self-doubt, build resilience, and take bold action in business and life. Each short, practical episode blends mindset science, decision-making psychology, and real-life stories to help you strengthen your confidence, rewire negative thought patterns, and create meaningful forward momentum. If you are navigating career pivots, burnout, reinvention, or leadership growth, Brave Moves gives you the tools to think differently, act bravely, and design a future aligned with your values and vision. Because confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build, one brave move at a time. Liked this episode? Share it with your midlife woman, entrepreneur friends! Love this show? Let us know how we helped you increase your confidence by leaving a review. If you’re looking for support to grow your business faster, be positioned as an authority in your industry, and impact the masses, schedule a call to