I just finished a book that is unlike any I’ve ever read before. The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna. It is the most beautiful book in its message, and its execution.
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I do not want to rob your experience of reading this book, so I will keep the description and details brief. However, if you want an idea, The Crossroads of Should and Must is about listening to the voice in your heart (or gut). That “voice” is your MUST. This MUST will lead you to your true calling and purpose in life. Sounds like a simple solution. Just listen to that voice and all will be grand. Not so easy. Getting to MUST can be an extremely uncomfortable journey. But a necessary one.
The biggest conflict that we face in listening to MUST is … SHOULD. SHOULD is your mind’s way of keeping you safe from any possible harm or discomfort. SHOULD is society’s expectations of the “right” way to live. SHOULD is a parent’s loving concern for their child to pick a path that is safe and will be financially stable. SHOULD feels safe and very comfortable. MUST can feel scary and uncertain. The problem with following SHOULD is that MUST will always be deep down inside of you, no matter how much you push it to the side.
This book dives into the importance of finding and choosing MUST over SHOULD. It is utterly inspiring and thought-provoking. Elle Luna really sets the tone by sharing her personal story of recognizing her MUST. Then she helps us recognize the influence of SHOULD’s in our lives. She acknowledges how difficult it can be to choose MUST. She lays out ideas and processes to help you discover your MUST, and then nudges you to go out and do it.
Besides this beautiful message that surely will ring true with every soul who picks it up, the way the message is presented is groundbreaking. Elle basically infuses the book full of her art. Her art IS the message. If pages like this don’t make you want to keep reading, I don’t know what will.
It is a gorgeous and easy read. I finished it in 2 days. This is not a book that will just sit on your nightstand for months. You will read it and will think of 100 people you want to gift it to.
Who is this book perfect for?
- Anyone who is responsible for teaching children.
- Anyone who is following a calling they are passionate about.
- Anyone in a job they are not passionate about.
- Anyone getting ready to graduate and find their first job.
- Anyone who is in the middle of the career.
- Anyone who has recently retired.
- Any and all parents that need to understand how best to support their children as they grow into their own.
- Middle and high schoolers who need to be listening for that voice and learn to not ignore it.
In fact, I really cannot think of one person who could not benefit from consuming this gorgeous book and message. I highly suggest that you consider buying The Crossroads of Should and Must for yourself and a friend. It’s going to be my “go to” gift from now on.
And, if you are interested in hearing Elle speak about this topic, I just heard a great podcast episode on Smart Creative Women with her as the guest. Just click HERE to go straight to the episode.
