> "Just do something that helps others, take some responsibility in the real world, even if it's small but at least you're doing something real, and worst case

> "Just do something that helps others, take some responsibility in the real world, even if it's small but at least you're doing something real, and worst case you're still miserable but at least you've done something meaningful." These things don't exist either, except as stories that you tell yourself. Why isn't it just as narcissistic to be obsessed with doing "meaningful" things and thinking you are so great for doing that? And then your answer is "just" do these things and you still might be miserable? This is all around a terrible fix for anything. It's like the story of the therapist who said people should stay in relationships even if they're unhappy, for the sake of love. "So now you've got two unhappy people, but long live 'love', what use is that to anyone?" If the article is correct (I think it is) then how you feel is based on the thoughts you have, and what you do is based on how you think and feel. That means "just" overcome your negative thoughts by magic, and do meaningful things, is a nonsense fix - it's like saying "stop navel gazing about refuelling your car and just drive somewhere". Well, how? If you don't think people will want your help because you feel worthless, how do you "just" help people? "just" fix what you think so you don't feel worthless, then that frees you up to go help people. Like the airplane warning "put on your own facemask first".