I had an ex treat me like that. Furthermore, if others are hinting at that then you can start to see a pattern of people's perspective. Maybe it's time you step out of your comfort zone and grip whatever passion you'd authentically be able to commit too.

Some people don't have the ability to maintain a grip but once one starts it builds momentum and little by little you flourish more each day. Even if you don't do it everyday you can always think about it.

There is this book called Man's Search For Meaning by Victor Frankl which dives into the power and strength one has when on gallantly finds meaning and what one will endure in order to aim towards it. This going from a jewish man who survived the holocaust where he went to the worst of concentration camps.

I haven't read it, but a decade ago there was a very popular book called purpose driven life. I'm not Christian, although my philosophy is laced with it. I haven't read this book it might be worth going to the library and see if it helps.

Personally, I like a narrative along with heavy meanings rooted inside the work. An old German and a disciple of Kant wrote "The way towards a blessed life. His conclusion is overcoming society and the age of perfected sinfulness to rise about the welter of culture and separate from your mere materiality in order to have a eternal life by having the sheer pleasure of the gift of giving. That's transcendental, that's aiming upward. It may not be what we do but what we ought to do under fair conditions.

When reading it I paused and thought about, "Isn't this what a god would do?" The gift of life and pleasure of seeing people's freedom flourish, which must be reconquered each day.

What a world it would be if we all shared that sentiment...