Time to Be Thankful

152 people had breakthroughs this week. Will the next one be you?

Two things for you to think about

The opposite of misery isn’t happiness, it’s gratitude.

Be grateful for your struggles, because within them is the opportunity for growth and meaning.

Two things for you to ask yourself

It’s Thanksgiving week in the United States. This year, on top of asking yourself who or what wonderful thing in life you’re grateful for, try asking: what struggle are you grateful for? How has it enriched your life?

One thing for you to try this week

Embrace a struggle in your life. That thing you’ve been complaining about for the last six months? Try finding a reason to be glad it happened. Then see how it feels. Let me know.

New This Week

Video: Life Lessons From Living Alone in a Ghost Town

A few months ago, I drove out to the desert to meet a man who gave up his whole life to live alone in a ghost town. I wanted to know what drove him and how the experience changed him. Was he lonely? Was he at peace? Or was he just kind of crazy?

Podcast: How to Stop Living for Other People (ft. Ben Nemtin)

Have you ever felt like there’s more to life than the daily grind, like your dreams are buried under all the obligations and expectations life throws at you? In this latest podcast episode, we sit down with The Buried Life co-founder and New York Times bestselling author, Ben Nemtin, to explore why so many of us feel disconnected from our true purpose—and how to reclaim it.

We dive deep into the psychology of fear, the power of accountability, and the surprising benefits of doing what you love—not just for yourself, but for everyone around you. We discuss why most people regret not living authentically, how to overcome the social and emotional barriers holding you back, and practical strategies for rediscovering your dreams, even if they’ve been buried for years. If you’re looking for inspiration to take that first small step toward a life that feels truly yours, this episode will get you there. Enjoy.

Last week’s breakthroughs

In last week’s newsletter, I pointed out that nobody else is responsible for your life but you, and asked you to take full responsibility for a problem you’re struggling with.

Doing this literally gave Nicki a reason to live:

I completely feel the weight of this statement because it resonates so deeply with me. For the longest time, I thought about escape—thought about ending the pain because it felt like no one else cared enough to lift me out of it. But this truth, the one that says nobody else is responsible for your life but you, hit me like a wave.

At first, it felt unfair. After all, others may have caused so much of my hurt. Why should it be on me to fix something I didn’t break? But as time went on, I began to see it differently. I realized that waiting for someone else to make it better was only leaving me stuck. The hard truth is, no one else can dig me out of my pain or unhappiness. That responsibility is mine.

When I fully embraced that, something shifted in me. I stopped contemplating suicide as a way out. I stopped looking for someone else to save me and started finding ways to save myself. It wasn’t easy. Some days it still isn’t. But every step I’ve taken toward owning my life has made me stronger, more hopeful, and more free.

This isn’t about blaming myself for the pain I’ve experienced—it’s about reclaiming my power. It’s about saying, ‘Yes, this happened, and it hurt. But I get to decide where I go from here.’ I’ve realized that I am worth that effort, worth that fight to keep going. And while the scars remain, they remind me of how far I’ve come.

Nobody else is responsible for my life but me. And honestly? That’s not a burden—it’s a liberation. It means I’m in control. It means I get to choose life, healing, and happiness for myself. And that’s exactly what I’m doing.

Taking responsibility also made all the difference to our next reader in their lowest moments:

I had hit rock bottom a year ago—hated my job, broke off a bad relationship, lost a few friends, drank unhealthily, and was woefully stuck in victim mode. One of the many things I had going for me was a wonderful friend who suggested doing the inner work together on a near daily basis to change our mindsets. That one act of taking responsibility for all aspects of my life kicked off a cascade of profound change. Choosing positive thoughts and action over limiting beliefs took a while to ingrain and make consistent, and the results are worth it—restored hope, resilience, purpose, joy, health and connection.

It is your responsibility to make your life good and meaningful. No one else can do it for you.

Finally, you don’t have to be at rock bottom to take responsibility for changing your life, like Nancy did:

Today I finally started the process of putting in a request with my job for a higher position and pay raise.

I’m the only one that has been stopping myself from doing this. Out of fear? Maybe… Procrastination… perhaps. A magic wand granting me the position… total wishful thinking.

What I had to adjust was the lack of faith in myself. When in fact I do matter. This decision was a full on Fuck yes.

As always, send your breakthroughs by simply replying to this email. Let me know if you’d prefer to remain anonymous.

Until next week,

Mark Manson

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author
My Website – My Books – My YouTube Channel – My Podcast