I feel like enabling TRP comes at a cost of loneliness at times.

I was a pathetic beta before, and not completely eliminated to be honest. I wore the same 5 shirts every week for work, and that's basically the tone for the whole relationship. 9 years, and then she cheats on me with some ugly fat dude (no exaggeration).

I've made a ton of progress. I dress a lot better, I started lifting since day 1 of breakup, and I went completely no contact on her. I don't miss her, but I miss that deep human connection.

I leaned on a best friend who is completely beta (his GF controls him, I never had that issue) for support but as I was changing by implementing self-improvement steps, he said and I quote "I liked the old you better" and started distancing himself from me. Note he was always envious of me, I remember once he was just staring at me as we were studying and said "wow you really won the gene lottery" - I was just like wtf? I heard that once you improve yourself, others will get jealous and/or envious and not want to be around you any longer. But I can't have any motivation to go further without having people in my life, am I alone in this?

I've met new people since then, but no one who will stay in my life as long as my ex-gf & friend (both around 10-12 years). Some are leaving the country soon, others are the type of people who get bored of a new friendship soon. I'm spinning one plate, getting about 3-4 new matches on Tinder daily, but finding I have zero motivation to start speaking to any of them anymore.

So in the end, I lost a solid best friend (yes, beta, jealous, all that jazz, but he did do a lot for me as well, and was an ear to lean on), gained a few crazy experiences, a few temporary friends and fun, but have zero motivation to continue since everything permanent in my past life (ex gf, previous best friend) are gone, the latter being more important for me.

Sitting here now at my 27th birthday, I'm pretty damn lost on where to go next. No school, work with old people, how do I meet people? It's not easy, and I find without a few deep connections (for me at least), the motivation just can't come.

How do you guys make solid friendships in late 20's and continue self-improving when you feel so alone?