What's right?

When I was younger, late teens, I had all the answers. I knew how to raise kids "the right way", how one should spend their money, answers for relationship issues, what to go to school for, and even answers to spiritual questions! But in fact I knew very little. That sort of black and white thinking can happen when we have a strong need to cling to ideas and beliefs, most of the time in order to feel safe or believe we are on the "right" path. All it took was for me to have my first serious relationship go up in flames, have a child, and have let downs in the money and career area to understand that I really didn't know all that much. When we are confronted with our vulnerabilities or weaknesses our minds are less likely to be rigid and cling to the "right way". Having personal challenges can be the best thing that happens to us, although it doesn't feel that way at the time! A very large lesson for me came when my oldest was about 2 years old. He was a wild thing, not awful, but wild, and one of my nieces quoted something that I had said to her a few years prior "I thought you weren't going to have any bratty kids?". I felt ashamed because I had been so judgemental about parents before I had children of my own. Having my own child, completely changed the rules. It wasn't as easy as I had thought and so many of my assumptions would be challenged. Having children has been one of the most humbling experiences of my life. They will be who they think they should be, not what I want- and that is good. Challenging but good.
I am much more humble now. I don't think I have answers, guidelines maybe for my own life, but I certainly don't have answers for how others should live their lives. I do like my role as a therapist in helping people figure out how to live- sorting through and values clarification. The best answers really do come from within!