How do I get the balance right between keeping my family happy, but living my life the way I want to?

You can keep your family happy just as long as it is not interfering with your life. If you are doing way to much for the family but feel unhappy about it. Then you are doing something wrong. Retrace you steps and make sure that while making your family happy in the process also making yourself happy.

Respecting other people's needs and opinions is always a good idea, but that shouldn't control what you do. That said, consider whether the things your family wants from you might even be in your best interests, before deciding to just "keep them happy".

You could try to consult your family on what you want to do with your life and what makes you happy. I'm sure they'll u understand.

It's good to establish your values and your goals first. Then you can decide for yourself what is best for you.

Depends on what "living my life the way I want to" means to you. What DOES that mean to you, and is it realistic to imagine that you can ALWAYS keep your family happy?

Oh this is a hard one! I think a good balance is when you feel happy in providing them some happiness. When it becomes a chore, it's unbalanced. And I wanted to share a little tidbit I learned about balance! Have you ever stood on a blank and worked on balancing yourself? Balance is movement! At first when trying to balance, the movements are large, swaying from one direction to the next, side to side. But the more you work on it, those movements get smaller and more smooth, not as jerky as when you started. Even when you've reached your balance on the board, small movements are still happening. Still adjusting. And sometimes the wind blows and we go back to the more rocky movements, the board isn't slapping the ground.