DEAR ABBY: I am a 28-year-old wife and mother. I love my family very much and do not lack the essentials in life. But I can't help feeling my house isn't clean enough, my home isn't good enough and I'm not good enough. Nothing in my life is up to my standards.
I see people all around me who have all of these wonderful things. They travel and have fun. I have nothing of any real worth, and I can't remember the last time I truly had fun.
I don't want to take anti-depressants to cover the problem; I want to feel better. I have considered hiring a life coach to help me find the basis for my feelings, but I am not sure if coaching is for real or where to find it. I do not live in a large city, and money is limited. I want to feel like I, and the things in my life, are enough. Help! –- INSUFFICIENT IN WYOMING
DEAR "INSUFFICIENT": It's a huge mistake to compare what you have to what others do, because you will always find people who have more. True happiness comes from within, not from outside yourself. Travel, fun and possessions are not the nitty-gritty of life. You already have the most important things in life -– a loving and healthy family.
Rather than looking for a "life coach" -– a field that is not yet licensed -– I strongly recommend you look in another direction. Your spiritual adviser would be an excellent place to start, or a licensed mental health professional who can help you put yourself back on track.