I see your point, and even agree that "coddled 20-somethings" are a real and worrying phenomenon. Where I respectfully disagree is with the idea that the ascet

I see your point, and even agree that "coddled 20-somethings" are a real and worrying phenomenon. Where I respectfully disagree is with the idea that the ascetic, protestant-work-ethic, hard-truth-telling, pull-yourself-together rhetoric is helpful to them. Even Jordan Peterson, who is arguably the epitome of that category, explicitly recognizes that the way forward is through incremental baby-steps. To wit: he (along with essentially every clinical psychologist) recommends aiming for small victories (make your bed, get your car's oil changed, etc.) and rewarding oneself, say, with a cup of coffee on the way home. It's in this sense that I think hardlining oneself is counter-productive. Worse, I think it's even more counterproductive for coddled youth. The way to pull oneself up by one's bootstraps is gently, or at least, compassionately.