From the time we are small children, we constantly hear about what we have to do. You have to be nice to your sister, you have to eat your vegetables, you have to work hard.

But the truth is, you don’t have to do any of those things. You can be mean to your sister, you can eat nothing but chips, and you can be lazy. Of course, every choice in life comes with a consequence, either positive or negative. Being mean to people will result in them not liking you. Poor eating choices lead to health problems.

When you feel overwhelmed, or stressed, think about what you actually “need” to do, and what you are choosing to do. If you are nice to your sister, and eat healthy, and work hard because you are choosing those as a path for your life, it will feel like less of a burden, and more of a choice you are making for yourself.

And if you really are making choices based on what you believe you “need” to do, take a step back and decide if that is really the best path for you. Changing your path in life is hard, but it’s better than staying on the wrong path.