the American way/consumerism:
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alternative method: religion. personally, I respect Zen Buddhism* (more a philosophy IMO). It encourages searching for internal answers rather than external. But maybe that's beccause i'm an
introvert.
Have you ever tried to work out? Life can be comparable to working out. When I started to work out, I was just doing to the motions to get muscle. But that's not the point.
Don't think of life as a means to an end. You have to live for yourself.
*note, I am not affiliated with this religion in any way. Please forgive me if I get anything wrong. This is purely my opinion of it.