This story is too small for you now,” says it all. Such a clear way to reframe what so many of us feel but can’t quite name. Subscribed to your page, love the way you’re thinking and writing about this.
I run a Substack called Present & Progressing, where I explore mindset shifts, momentum, and making sense of your 20s through a more intentional lens. Would love to have you check it out if that speaks to you:
Couldn’t agree more. Distraction is one of the most subtle (and accepted) ways we end up off track. Subscribed to Unorthodoxy, love the clarity and urgency in your writing.
I write a Substack called Present & Progressing, where I explore momentum, mindset, and making intentional choices in your 20s. Would love to have you check it out if it resonates:
This is really spot on. I've been depressed and bored and have confused the boredom with depression. Bored as in, no goals or nothing to aim for. It's so important for us to always be moving, otherwise we stagnate and become bored = depression feelings.
Thanks for reminding me to create some writing/Substack goals!
Totally feel you on that. I've been in the same place, mistaking a lack of direction for something deeper. It’s wild how much clarity and energy return once you have a goal to aim at, even a small one. Excited to hear you’re setting some writing/Substack goals, that momentum adds up fast.
Just subscribed to your page. I write Present & Progressing, where I explore similar themes around mindset, purpose, and navigating your life with more intention from the perspective of someone in their mid-20s. Would love to have you along if it resonates:
Questless’ feels like the perfect word—but let’s be real, not all depression is existential. Chemical imbalance is scientifically real. Still, though—there’s a huge group of people confusing stagnation with despair, and no pill can replace purpose.
Everyone craves purpose and feeling needed or like they are adding value. That requires sacrifice. Thanks for highlighting this. Here’s to finding something worth sacrificing for.
Why I appreciate Dan’s perspective so much is because he highlights the function of the problem rather than the contents of the problem. Yes, this potentially can lead you down a rabbit hole of more questions to be answered like why do we even need meaning in the first place, why do I even want the things that I want if I’m going to die anyway. All valid arguments, but specifically unique to every individual to answer for themselves.
Totally with you, what I appreciate most about Dan’s perspective is how he focuses on the function of the problem rather than just the content. It’s not just “what’s wrong,” but how our mind is processing it and what that reveals. And yeah, that can spiral into the big existential stuff. Why do we need meaning at all? Why do we even want what we want? But those are the questions only we can answer for ourselves.
Just subscribed to your Substack, really resonated with your take. I write Present & Progressing, where I explore mindset, meaning, and navigating life with more clarity from the perspective of someone in their mid-20s. If that sounds up your alley, I’d love to have you check it out:
Exactly. Having a reason to get up and go after something makes the days feel more focused and alive. It’s easier to stay motivated when there’s something that matters to work toward.
I'm not a gamer and never was, so I prefer to think about my life as a story with me as the hero. But it's the same idea.
If my story sucks (you're depressed), it's because I suck as a hero. A hero doesn't sit around bitching about everything being so hard and unfair. Or worse, sit around and do nothing.
So I ask myself: If this were to become a great story, what would the hero (me) have to do?
I think it's similar to what you're describing here, Dan, but I could have never brought the idea across as succinctly and with as much detail as you did.
You’re bored, uninitiated, and unchallenged.
Not clinically, but existentially.
What you’ve been calling “depression” might just be the soul’s way of saying:
“This story is too small for you now.”
Awesome work, Dan. Thanks
This story is too small for you now,” says it all. Such a clear way to reframe what so many of us feel but can’t quite name. Subscribed to your page, love the way you’re thinking and writing about this.
I run a Substack called Present & Progressing, where I explore mindset shifts, momentum, and making sense of your 20s through a more intentional lens. Would love to have you check it out if that speaks to you:
https://presentandprogressing.substack.com
Appreciate your perspective!
Once you find your quest, you’ve gotta be deadly serious about it — because if not society, especially distraction (like social media) will take your, literally, take your life away: https://unorthodoxy.substack.com/p/its-time-to-take-life-seriously
Couldn’t agree more. Distraction is one of the most subtle (and accepted) ways we end up off track. Subscribed to Unorthodoxy, love the clarity and urgency in your writing.
I write a Substack called Present & Progressing, where I explore momentum, mindset, and making intentional choices in your 20s. Would love to have you check it out if it resonates:
https://presentandprogressing.substack.com
Appreciate the work you’re putting out. Looking forward to reading more!
My man! Thanks for the sub and I just subscribed as well to yours! Looking forward to checking it out and where our paths may cross.
Appreciate you! 🤝 Hope you have a great day!
This is really spot on. I've been depressed and bored and have confused the boredom with depression. Bored as in, no goals or nothing to aim for. It's so important for us to always be moving, otherwise we stagnate and become bored = depression feelings.
Thanks for reminding me to create some writing/Substack goals!
Totally feel you on that. I've been in the same place, mistaking a lack of direction for something deeper. It’s wild how much clarity and energy return once you have a goal to aim at, even a small one. Excited to hear you’re setting some writing/Substack goals, that momentum adds up fast.
Just subscribed to your page. I write Present & Progressing, where I explore similar themes around mindset, purpose, and navigating your life with more intention from the perspective of someone in their mid-20s. Would love to have you along if it resonates:
https://presentandprogressing.substack.com
Glad we crossed paths here. Keep going!
Questless’ feels like the perfect word—but let’s be real, not all depression is existential. Chemical imbalance is scientifically real. Still, though—there’s a huge group of people confusing stagnation with despair, and no pill can replace purpose.
Everyone craves purpose and feeling needed or like they are adding value. That requires sacrifice. Thanks for highlighting this. Here’s to finding something worth sacrificing for.
Thankx for this new perspective on the topic..
Its very helpful...
I just want yo ask how can we self-educate and self-improve oueselves???
How to know on which lines should one needs to improve??
Why I appreciate Dan’s perspective so much is because he highlights the function of the problem rather than the contents of the problem. Yes, this potentially can lead you down a rabbit hole of more questions to be answered like why do we even need meaning in the first place, why do I even want the things that I want if I’m going to die anyway. All valid arguments, but specifically unique to every individual to answer for themselves.
Totally with you, what I appreciate most about Dan’s perspective is how he focuses on the function of the problem rather than just the content. It’s not just “what’s wrong,” but how our mind is processing it and what that reveals. And yeah, that can spiral into the big existential stuff. Why do we need meaning at all? Why do we even want what we want? But those are the questions only we can answer for ourselves.
Just subscribed to your Substack, really resonated with your take. I write Present & Progressing, where I explore mindset, meaning, and navigating life with more clarity from the perspective of someone in their mid-20s. If that sounds up your alley, I’d love to have you check it out:
https://presentandprogressing.substack.com
Glad we crossed paths in the comments.
It is a basic human necessity to have purpose.
Love this! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing this, Dan.
Basically the equivalent of “progressive overload” in gym applied to life.
Exactly. Having a reason to get up and go after something makes the days feel more focused and alive. It’s easier to stay motivated when there’s something that matters to work toward.
Wow thanks man. Nice work
I'm not a gamer and never was, so I prefer to think about my life as a story with me as the hero. But it's the same idea.
If my story sucks (you're depressed), it's because I suck as a hero. A hero doesn't sit around bitching about everything being so hard and unfair. Or worse, sit around and do nothing.
So I ask myself: If this were to become a great story, what would the hero (me) have to do?
I think it's similar to what you're describing here, Dan, but I could have never brought the idea across as succinctly and with as much detail as you did.
Great read Dan!
I’m feeling dequest