u/Impressive-Ice-376

I (26F) have been with my boyfriend (24M) and he told me a few days ago that he is not that serious about relationships right now at this stage in his life. He said that he has to focus on work and that relationships should be fun and recreational. Over the past year, he said that he loved me and insisted that I tell my friends that he is my boyfriend, which I did. While I didn't think we were super serious, I didn't think we were casual at all. We hadn't discussed anything about serious stuff. I asked him why he didn't say it before and he said he thought it was implied. Earlier the same day, he had said that the guy my friend was seeing is just using her as a placeholder because she's not that good looking and that the guy would not have treated her like that if she were top tier and would have locked it in and been in a serious relationship with her. This whole conversation has bothered me from the moment it was had and I am unable to focus on anything else. I am very confused and upset and do not know what to make of this. I am wondering if I am the placeholder in his life and if he is doing the same and he unwittingly revealed his line of thinking or intentions by projecting on that guy because that's what he would do. I am questioning my looks, my self esteem dropped to the gutter. I don't know what to do. I would like to hear some grounded advice about this. What do I do?