If you could permanently ban a word from general usage, which one would it be? Why?

Eliminate SHOULD.

As a psychologist colorfully says, “Don’t should on yourself!”

For example, I might say: “I should have sold 5,000 HORNED EDGE books in 2024. But I didn’t, so I’m a failure.” Or, “I should have walked a 5-K already! But I didn’t. Shame on me.”

Just a note about the famous Bible passage John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV

… Jesus isn’t saying, “If you don’t have faith in me, you’re going to hell!” He adds verse 17,

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.17.ESV

In other words, Jesus is permanently banning the SHOULD-word. He took on the failures and the shame. He rose in victory. And he is giving me power so that I can take a deep breath and say, “I can!”

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