Whose life is this anyway?

We arrive on this planet equipped with all we need to be successful in our own right. Before long we begin to receive messages from those around us on how our life should look. These messages come from our parents, extended family, teachers, and society. Many of us followed the voices of authority and did our best to accommodate their wishes. What they may have been communicating to us were their unfulfilled dreams and ambitions. It could also have been their fears as to what life would be like for us without their injunctions. We often had to deal with conflicting directives which made life even more complicated. At some point we choose to reclaim our lives and live out our true purpose for being here. We may do so at the displeasure of those around us, and we must be willing to walk through this as part of our authentic self. I still recall my mother informing me that I should major in marine biology even though she didn't have a clue as to what that entailed. She also expressed her disdain when I announced I was changing my major to psychology. I never regretted the change in majors. Its knowledge base provided the foundation I needed to be of service to others. Whose life are you leading today?