Michael McCord: If a person follows a spiritual path, should they expect things to get easier each year?  Should I have any expectations at all?  If life doesn't get that much easier, why follow a spiritual path? We'll explore this in relation to the modern work life, home life and personal goal setting.   Most folks identify with the thought:  "life doesn't come with a manual on how to make this all work, when will I figure out how to live?"