“The Right Thing”: One Definition?

One of my clients recently had a breakthrough that I think so many of us can relate to.

For her, doing the “right thing” always meant doing the hardest thing:

• Preparing materials long before the meeting.

• Answering emails and Slacks right away, no matter the hour.

• Upholding the highest possible standards—even if it cost her energy, peace, or sleep.

Meanwhile, the people around her seemed to define “right” very differently.

For them, the “right thing” was about making their day easier. Creating a smoother flow. Or prioritizing what felt sustainable.

At first, she assumed they were being lazy—or even careless. That they must see “right” the same way she did, but just didn’t want to uphold it. They were going against it, choosing what was easier, what they wanted.

But then came the realization that changed everything:

👉 They weren’t trying to get away with anything

👉 They truly believed their version of “right” was right.

That insight shifted her out of resentment and comparison.

And here’s where it got really powerful.

Once she stopped wasting energy on frustration—assuming everyone else was wrong or letting things slide—she gained enough elevation to see the truth:

She was choosing her version of “right.”

She was choosing to stay late.

Choosing to answer every ping immediately.

Choosing to hold herself to the toughest standard in the room.

And when you realize it’s a choice, something incredible happens: you have the power to choose differently.

At that point, she had two options:

1. Accept her choices.

Own the fact that this is her definition of “right” and stop resenting others for making different ones. This is the moment to release comparison and acknowledge: “This is how I choose to show up. And I don’t need anyone else to do it the same way.”

2. Make a different choice.

Decide that staying late, working harder, or answering faster isn’t actually serving her anymore—and shift her version of “right” to something more aligned with her well-being, her leadership, her life.

Either way, the resentment loses its grip.

Because the moment we recognize that “right” is a perception—not an absolute truth—we stop fighting other people’s choices, and start reclaiming our own.

That’s where freedom lives.

✨ Imagine how much lighter your days could feel if you stopped carrying the invisible weight of “doing the right thing” according to everyone else’s rules.

So let me ask you:

Where are you exhausting yourself by doing what you perceive as right—and what might shift if you gave yourself permission to choose differently?

If you'd like some help with this, grab your free coaching session and let's get you YOUR breakthrough.

Or, I invite you to check out my two part course on boundaries (the first part is free) by clicking here.