Today I want to talk a bit about the most thankless job on the planet, and it may be your job. Years ago, it used to be mine - my kids will be more than happy to confirm this. 

Do you know anyone who thinks it is their job to shape up everybody else? Ask them why they do it, and they will tell you it is only for the good of others.  

You see, they were conditioned to believe that if you don't do things their way, you are doing them the wrong way. They can give you a dozen reasons why. They end up irritated with other people just about all the time and often complain about how overburdened they are.  I call a person like this a "Captain of the World," and it is the most thankless job on the planet. It is very stressful too, because these "Captains" are motivated by fear of what will happen if they don't do certain things and if other people don't do them.

Now, it is important to realize that you are not accountable for other people's behavior and you are not accountable to other people for your own behavior, either, unless you choose to be.

Remember, too, that some rules are necessary, but many others serve only to feed an irrational need to keep something awful from happening. Captains of the World usually pass their compulsions along to their kids and have a terrible time maintaining close relationships.

So, if you are busy trying to shape up your family, your office, or the entire world, consider resigning your position as Captain before you have a full-scale mutiny on your hands. There are better ways to live, and you can find them if you try.