I had this feeling you describe. It waned, as i got older and more worried about achieving anything at all in life. But the final push to change my attitude on this one came by reading a post on thelastpsychiatrist.com, with this great quote in it:

> But whatever happens, your future happiness is entirely related to your ability to impose your own limits on your freedom.

> The time has come to not be everything you want to be, but to be one thing you've wanted to be.