One idea that has revolutionized my thinking is this: you are allowed to not want things.
You can look at everything society tells you that you need to have and just be like, “Nope. I will not be participating.”
Men used to make vows. they promised to love someone until death and meant it. they named children after gods they hoped the child would live to honor. they stood at graves and swore revenge over sacred bread. at some point the vow died. we all decided quietly that meaning what you say was too much to ask
Your heart is not a state secret. You are meant to declare allegiances. You are meant to have favourites. Write the letter. Miss the train. Stay up until dawn talking. You should be caught red-handed loving something, someone.
Imagine writing a PhD thesis so foundational that the title is literally just the name of the entire field of study.
Paul Dirac, 1926: "Quantum Mechanics."