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I predict that I would answer 'nothing' and then feel ashamed.

It makes me wonder why the two go together and whether I can break that link so I could answer 'nothing' and be OK with that.

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"Nothing" and shame will always go hand in hand. But you can always reevaluate what "nothing" means to you. "I created a great family and brought up great kids." "I helped the people in my community." "I managed to stay a decent person." These are all "somethings" one can be proud of, even if they are not things that have changed the world at large.

> "Nothing" and shame will always go hand in hand.

I dispute that. You wouldn't expect a monk, a hunter-gatherer tribesman, or a lion to be ashamed of doing "nothing great", would you?

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