How do you escape, or better handle, the rat race?

I did not come from money. I am but a working class person in a great job (10 years experience in this industry now), and on paper, I am “successful”.

But good lord, I am not close whatsoever to escaping the rat race. And I cannot fathom working in this capacity for the next 20 years.

I have tried a few businesses over the last ten years: most failed (and lost money), but one has managed to bring in about $40,000 a year. I’m super proud of that, but it’s not at all some “freedom ticket” that grants me the peace of mind of financial independence.

I’m really just curious if anyone out there has felt this type of depressive burnout when you zoom out and realize, “this is the next 20-30 years”.