Living up to someone else's ideals will never lead to anything other than stress and unhappiness, and the meaning of life is to make what you want out of it--no matter what that may be, you are in charge. Don't let social norm's, your friends, family, the past, your credit cards, your fears, your therapist, psychic, spouse, or your guilt ever dictate what you do. It is your job to make yourself happy, it isn't anyone else's. When John Lennon stressed to us "all you need is love," don't you know he was right?