Sounds like you haven't failed enough, which means you haven't ventured enough. Go try and fail and learn. Don't be safe. The panic you're feeling is good because it will make the bullshit drop away and thereby remove barriers and fear from between you and what you might like to try. Hitting bottom sucks and is also great because you never ever ever want to go back there. Remind yourself that you are capable and competent enough that you will never be flipping burgers or out on the street begging for food. That's a sort of natural extension of our fear of failure if we play it out to the vague, hazy, irrational eventuality we secretly imagine. You will always be able to take basic care of yourself and you'll always be able to build from that platform. So for now keep pursuing anything that seems closer to who you are and what you want than where you are right now. Each time. Doesn't have to be a home run, just something closer than where you are now. If there's something you like or do well, go try it out as a job or avocation. Don't stay where you are out of apathy or indecision. Pick something and go. tl;dr "Do something, even if it's wrong." Clarification: Do something even if you know it's not the perfect thing. It may take a while to find your stride, so be sure to live while you're doing it.