Deepak, I have been on a soul searching mission since 1987. I’ve read tons of books, many of yours. I have grown much, however I am at a stumbling block again. The kids are grown but now my husband and I are having problems. I would like to start a life anew, and yet I feel he wants to grow old and die. I can tell the stress of this is affecting me physically. Some mornings I have a stiff neck before he leaves for work, or my stomach churns, I can just feel the strain in my lower back when we are discussing something. I am naturally very happy and see the humor in life and really try and spread my love to everyone, but this doesn’t make me happy and I’m beginning to think it’s not making me very healthy. Who’s happiness do I concern myself with if he claims he’s happy with me the way things are right now without changing anything? This whole thing makes me sad because there was a time I thought we would be together forever and now I feel like I just want to run. I very much value your opinion so any advice would mean the world.

I am 31 years old. Married. My father has been an extremely successful person in his life, professionally and personally. I have a younger brother who to is heading in my father footsteps in his life and career which makes us all very happy and proud. My wife is an extremely talented, intelligent and hardworking woman who has her dreams and aims and which she is extremely capable of achieving. Among all this happy scenario, I am stuck in a life which seems to be going nowhere. Careerwise I am going nowhere in spite of putting in my best efforts and success seems to be indifferent to me. I cant leave this job for certain reasons which are beyond my control for at least another 10 years. And by then I think it will all be too late for anything. What seems to be easy and ordinary for other people just doesn’t happen to me. all along in my conscious memory my life has been a string of failed attempts, so near yet never there episodes. I have repeatedly tried to put my failures aside and work harder but still it has been for nothing. I am a believer but of late have started feeling that even God has turned a blind eye to my situation. I really feel desperate for some miracle to pull me out of this gloom but I don’t know whether that will ever happen. I feel my life is just running out without any purpose. I have tried taking solace in good books to find my answers but to no avail. I hate to be in this kind of melancholy but don’t know what to do. I feel that I am wasting my wife’s life too because of my situation. I am not sure if anyone will have any answers. What do you think? Is there hope?