Well, did you ever stop and think that maybe you have to adjust in your own mind (when you are ready) what the "right things" are?
I understand your life is VERY different than what you thought. All of us are here for that very reason. As an outsider though you very much seem to thrive when you "counsel" others yet you don't give yourself the same attention.
You are important to people even if you are not helping them or giving them advice. You seemed SO happy y'day when you told your friend what career path to take (nutrition?) and she listened. Why not just be happy that your friend trusted you enough to TALK to you about her ideas and thoughts about a career? IMO that all comes back to the control issue and I kind of gather when you feel like you are in control by "counseling" people you feel needed and that is what you like.
GAL is VERY important at first but sometimes we GAL too much and force ourselves to keep so busy with "stuff" that we don't put in the time and effort that is necessary to really examine and alter our "old ways".
The need to "compete" for a better life sort of ties back to your control and ego issues. Who is to say what a better life is?
As an observation it seems you like to give out counsel but you really put forward a different vibe when somebody challenges you.
But I do think you are being very honest with yourself when you say the bottom line is you have great pain from being rejected. Work on THAT (not easy, I know!) and perhaps the need to compete, know your W is miserable and counsel so much will kind of become less necessary to you.
