“I choose” – two of the most important words we have. It is so much more empowering to say “I choose” than “I have to.” The reality is you don’t “have” to do anything. There may be many reasons why you would choose to do something, and some of them may have to do with the consequences you would rather not deal with if you don’t do it. And you still don’t “have” to do it. When you start thinking in terms of what you “choose” to do instead of what you “have” to do,  it reminds you that it is your choice – it comes from you, not from somewhere outside you. Try changing “I have to” to “I choose” for a while, and see if it changes anything for you.