You're on a roll. Your "self improvement journey", however you define it, is going very well.

You have a routine. Your physical attractiveness is way up. You've read books.

But suddenly, the euphoria of this cycle is giving way to the same old thought - "why am I miserable?"

You are miserable because you are alone. All the time you spent convincing yourself that "doing the right things" would magically conjure happiness has, unfortunately, been proven incorrect.

What kind of incorrect, though?

The simple reality of life is that your biology demands you be a gregarious creature (gregarious means "living in flocks or loosely organized communities").

No amount of lying to yourself or "just monk mode bro" will replace human connection.

Sure, this is a time where connection is harder to come by, but I can tell you that the older you are, the more difficult human connection becomes - it's mostly because people stop trying.

Do yourself a favor if you're doing "the right things" and still miserable - try that.

I've made a best friend on a plane. Trust me, your homies are what keep you going.

You don't need to be the leader, particularly if your personality type is not suited to that. What you do need is a place.

Find your place amongst others.