Finding happiness

This situation is a little complicated, I apologize for its length. My girlfriend and I have been dating for 4 years. She suggested some space about 6 months ago so that she could feel happy with herself. She has suffered with anxiety and moving forward with her career acting. So she took some time to face her fears and feel better. We still went on dates occassionally, and I waited patiently for her. Now, she's done with figuring herself out. She says she is happier, and wants to come be back with me now. The only problem is, the break made me realize I wasn't completely happy with myself either. And in a way that's made me realize that I am reliant on her to feel happy. I feel like I used to be creative and have so many friends, and it hit me that I don't have either. I realized that I've been just trying to pay the bills and haven't focused on what my passion is. It's no fault of her's, I just got so wrapped up in us and my job that I never had time for anything else. So here's the problem. When she had her issues, they were solved in only a couple months via acting projects she had in the works for awhile. They made her face things she never had before and overcome. My issues seem like lengthier projects, especially since I don't have anything in the works. I feel like I'm starting from scratch. I told her that only I can make myself happy, and that I can't be with her while I'm doing it because it's too hard otherwise, that I can't rely on her for happiness, I need to do this myself. She wants to at least date like we did when it was her situation. I tried that, but it felt too hard only having a little bit of her and then having the rest of the time to just think about her. Maybe too distracting. Any advice helps. Some perspective. I know people have to take time to find themselves, that whole "Love yourself before you love someone else" thing. But is there any way to have both good things? A way to hold onto her?

TSF, I think you should go with your instinct. If you really feel that you need to find yourself and be alone for awhile, do it. At least do a test trial, ask for a short break (a week or 2?), to see if that's what you really needed to figure out what you want in life. Hope you find your happiness!