One of the best things that can happen to us is for us to grow to a place in life where we are the one with the responsibility. However, this might not seem like to be true when we start to feel the rigors of responsibility. Even so, we do not fully appreciated responsibility unless, from time to time, we consider some of the alternatives. One of the major alternatives is to live a life that is dependent on the whims of others--this is the life of a child. Another major alternative is the thing that sits aside taxes, as being one of the sure things of life: death. Especially considering the latter alternatives, responsibility is a good thing!

Sitting right there, along with responsibility, is a hazy portion of life, as pertains to coming of age. This hazy portion is the place at which we discover the fact that with responsibility comes accountability--whether we acknowledge it or not. Ideally, with accountability comes authority, but this is not always the case. When authority is lacking, there is an increased probability that undue expectations will stand in its place; though this may be a heavy burden to bear, there is a way to cope with it.

Even when authority is lacking, there is a way to make an end-run around undue expectations. We accomplish the end-run by enhancing our options. Now, enhancing ones options is not just a means of combating undue expectations. Enhancing ones options is also highly effective in taking the more proactive approach of establishing the area that forestalls or even eliminates undue expectations. Thus, enhancing ones options is an essential part of living.

Enhancing ones options, can be as simple as discovering a particular song that brings you peace: sometimes, even, there are songs or sayings that will distract your mind away from anguish or even illness. Forming and using a positive distraction, is a part of the personal conditioning that we all need to perform for the sake of our peace of mind. When we discover alternate, acceptable activities, these, too, can lessen the impact of undue expectations.

Lessening the impact of undue expectations will give us the peace that we need in order to recognize the true essentials of living. This lessening is required for both sets of undue expectations: those that others place on us, and those that we place on our self. When we start to move away from the control that undue expectations press upon us, we will start to see more clearly the conditioning that is our blessing from God.

Chief among the blessings of God is the conditioning that we have that makes us seek out food, shelter and clothing. Our acceptance of this level of conditioning as a place in life where we can achieve satisfaction, can also establish patterns that lessen tension. From the time of infancy, we recognize food and shelter as being essential, even in the newly formed mind of the child. Clothing, however, is somewhat optional for a well-fed and properly sheltered child; optional, that is, if diapers are not included in the category of clothing. However, in many cases, excluding diapers from the category of clothing is not possible because they do serve as clothing for many infants; since the parent, rather than the infant, sometimes think of diapers as being one of the essentials of life.

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