Why are people today so unhappy?

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  • #308809
    Vknid
    Moderator

      We see so many people today very unhappy, miserable and unfulfilled.  I actually attribute much of the “mental health crisis” as mostly people that are unhappy and hopeless and cannot see a reason why their life matters.  And once you feel as if your life is meaningless, then it’s just a short hop from there to the idea that no one’s life has any meaning. This is when very bad things happen and we see this born out today.  And no, that is not a mental health issue.  This is the logical conclusion of what western society is putting into the minds of many people, especially the young. This is mostly a 1st world problem.

      There are many people on TV and social media who ponder this issue and the conclusion usually is we need more mental health care and a whole batch of unanswered questions and statements that this is a very complex problem.  It’s not.

      You can throw as many therapists and fairly useless meds at people you want whom are hopeless and find life pointless and it won’t help in the least.  And it’s not helping now.  These people are sad and “depressed” (that word gets used incorrectly far too often) but it’s not because of a “chemical imbalance” (another falsehood) but because they are actually sad and for good reason.

      If we go back to the beginning of American culture life was about your family, your homestead and the community around you.  Even as recent as the 50’s we see that same understanding where the path to contentment was typically through getting married, having children, working hard and having a home.  Well then came the 60’s and somehow what was a common understanding became an unfair societal expectation.  So for decades we raged against all tradition, typical roles, and anything that was deemed normal or stigmatizing.

      So we arrive at present day.  Society’s prescription for happiness is to concentrate on yourself (this is coming from left and right).  Do things for you.  You deserve it.  Love yourself.    Young people hear this and they do as they are told.  They live for instant gratification to the detriment of their futures and they do for themselves constantly with little concern for others.

      What happens at this point is after living some portion of your life trying as hard as you can to make yourself happy for 5 mins at a time as many times as possible you come to the conclusion you are miserable.  And you are confused and you don’t know why.  You did everything that was supposed to make you happy but you are the farthest thing from it. You consult others around you and they feel the same and no one can collectively figure out why.  The logical conclusion often is, well if there is no joy to be had in life why live it.  Why does anything matter then?

      We can defeat these tragic situations, not through therapy or useless medication but with a renewed understanding of how (for most folks) to be happy.  To know what things cause long term purpose and joy and to know the things that’s don’t that we should avoid.  For a very long time these things were considered common sense.  Now they are nearly secrets lost to time.

      Family, God, love, children, goals, community are all things that bring long term contentment.  The secret there is they have little to do with the self.

      The modern world will loudly offer you freedom.  But the only thing you will be free from is happiness and hope while being enslaved by misery.

       

       

      • This topic was modified 6 months ago by Vknid.
      #308835

      People appear to be more unhappy today because they spend too much time engaging in/bombarding themselves with negativity, comparing themselves unfavorably to others etc.; the ease of access to social media has just exacerbated the problem.

      The solution is simple – turn off your devices, practice mindfulness and do something constructive.

       

      Don’t get me wrong, I like social media but there are times I just go cold turkey to reset. Believe me, it’s necessary for your mental health.

       

      #308838
      Vknid
      Moderator

        “The solution is simple – turn off your devices, practice mindfulness and do something constructive.”

        This is a component of the unhappiness but it is not at all the root.

        What we see today with following the incorrect path for contentment has been brewing since the 60’s and really caught wind in the 90’s.  I would say though that social media has played a role in spreading that incorrect info and giving it a false validation.

        #308849
        DarthVengeant
        Premium

          We live in a convenient world. People are unhappy because they are bombarded by unrealistic things in the media. Everything we see is enticing, but not attainable for the majority of people. Sex sells, but the majority of us don’t get it like we see it. Everything looks glossed over and nice, but that is not real life. Children are raised in this kind of world, having a cell phone at the ready, and grow up unhappy. Sedated on drugs and promiscuity.

          Happiness? My happiness would be having a wife to go through the rest of my life with by my side through thick and thin. A simple home out in the middle of nowhere. A movie to curl up and watch together after enjoying a good meal. Music to listen to, and lots of art and imagery to look at. And….that’s about it. A simple few things, I don’t require much to be happy, but that first thing (a wife) never comes for me. So am I happy? I try. I have moments. But, without that soul mate, I never truly will be. I’ve learned to be alone, I have been single for more years and I can count now. Out of the past 13+ years I had a g/f for one month around 8 years ago. Ya, that’s a long time being single. I like my quiet alone time, I truly enjoy that. But at the end of the day, id rather not have that empty bed to go to.

          #308870
          Vknid
          Moderator

            “Happiness? My happiness would be having a wife to go through the rest of my life with by my side through thick and thin. A simple home out in the middle of nowhere. A movie to curl up and watch together after enjoying a good meal. Music to listen to, and lots of art and imagery to look at. And….that’s about it. A simple few things, I don’t require much to be happy, but that first thing (a wife) never comes for me.”

            THAT!  THAT IS MY POINT!

            Happiness or contentment (long term happiness) is NOT complex overall.  That more or less for eons was common sense.  It’s not a one size fits all thing but for most the same formula worked well.

            This is where many societal expectations originated from. Not because your friends or family want to make you a certain way but because they understand that if you get married and have children or have certain goals in your life you will generally end up happy.

            But this is my entire point.  This formula that you and I are aware of because we are older is lost on many of the crowd under 35. Not only do they NOT know it they are told lies about living life only for yourself.  So they end up miserable and cannot figure out why because they are doing everything the “modern” world is telling them to which I am sure leads to the whole “what is wrong with me” mental scenario.

            Also, I have been alone myself for the vast majority of my life.  I was married once and that did not go well and I have dated very little before that or since.  For several reasons I have accepted this my lot in life.  I was able to step out of that position long enough to have a daughter for which I am thankful to God for.

            But just because we do not have what we think we should, this does not give us a reason to be sad or feel jilted.  I say this as someone whom fights that tendency.  At the end of the today most females in my age range are all broken (as are the men like myself) and most are not willing to take a chance unless they get everything they want which means everyone gets to be lonely.  It’s 100x worse for the young.  From a male perspective (the only one I have) most young women have been made insane because of feminism lying to them and not realizing that men and women need each other.  They are happy when they work together and seeing those relationships as a competition ruins it all.  What hurts men, hurts women, hurts men.

            • This reply was modified 5 months, 4 weeks ago by Vknid.
            #308885
            Vknid
            Moderator

              I also wanted to add that part of the misinfo on finding contentment leads people to believe if they have many things or a lot of money/success this will make them happy.  It can, for a short while.  But that thirst for something bigger than yourself eventually kicks in and you end up at the same point wondering why you are here.

              Conversely, you have a lot of people whom blame their misery on having little.  While that does add stress to life, making a certain amount per year does not guarantee happiness.  I have heard many people claim their happiest times were when they were struggling to get by and working towards having more.

              A lot of happiness has to do with perception.  I heard an older guy yesterday on a California podcast (he is trying to help reform their prison systems in an actually constructive way) yesterday and he was in jail for 30+ years.  From 18 to his late 40’s.  He reformed himself and found God.  They let him out.  He spoke of a time when he was out as a free man at a Church event. Everyone was outside eating but it was chilly and they all went in.  He stayed outside and ate because he loved outside, a place for most of his life he was not allowed.  He noticed he was under a large oak tree and he found it to be one of the most beautiful things he had seen.  He explained he got up, and laid his hand on the tree.  He said when he felt the bark he cried with joy.

              I leave it with a poignant quote.

              “money doesn’t buy you happiness, but at least you get to pick your misery” –Rodney Dangerfield

              #308887

              I read an article some years ago about which country had the happiest people. Surprisingly it was communist Cuba.

              Although that would belie the fact that many risked life and limb seeking refugee status elsewhere.

              #308928

              @Maverick
              I read an article some years ago about which country had the happiest people. Surprisingly it was communist Cuba.

              Finland has been statistically the happiest country in the world for six years in a row now, despite the winters being long, cold and extremely dark which creates a term called “kaamos” which is basically a time period when people feel less energized and more gloomy because the sun never rises above the horizon.

              The reasoning has usually been linked with the high standard of living for everyone, and people being taken care of and not left hanging on their own. Not so surprisingly, all Nordic countries are always in the top 10 despite the geographical disadvantage with the winters.

              But I do agree with the fact that social media causes self esteem issues when people start comparing themselves with what they see on the internet, like beautiful and wealthy people.

              But happiness is always proportional. People in developed countries get upset for getting the wrong colored iPhone for birthday present, while kids in developing nations are satisfied when getting a new wooden stick for present

              #308941
              Vknid
              Moderator

                “But I do agree with the fact that social media causes self esteem issues when people start comparing themselves with what they see on the internet, like beautiful and wealthy people.”

                It goes far deeper than self esteem.  Comparing yourself to others is a human problem existing since the beginning of time, social media did not create that but I do agree it amplifies it. However, the young are shown a path for happiness (normally through the self) that is incorrect.  And after they follow it and find that they are miserable this leads to hopelessness as they have no answers or resolution to that state.

                “The reasoning has usually been linked with the high standard of living for everyone, and people being taken care of and not left hanging on their own”

                I will agree on the first and disagree on the second.  I am not sure there is anyone on the planet “taken care of” and that is ESPECIALLY the case by people who will promise you such a false utopian ideal.

                “But happiness is always proportional. People in developed countries get upset for getting the wrong colored iPhone for birthday present, while kids in developing nations are satisfied when getting a new wooden stick for present”

                It’s a matter of perspective.  And this is why things like attempting to have a good attitude, introspection, not taking things for granted and understanding your blessings are usually present in happy/content people.  These are some of the things rarely understood by the young currently and even many whom are close to or are in middle age.

                #308980
                Vknid
                Moderator

                  Here is an example of what I am talking about.  Do for yourself, don’t worry about anything but pleasuring yourself for short bursts as often as possible.  This is a recipe for long term sadness.

                   

                  #309036

                  I am not sure there is anyone on the planet “taken care of” and that is ESPECIALLY the case by people who will promise you such a false utopian ideal.

                  True, but it helps oddly when you don’t have to grind your ass off every single day for 40 years for a shitty pay and living pay check to pay check. There’s a pretty clear overlap between gender equality index, wealth inequality and happiness.

                  About the Tim Pool video, I agree that having children brings more meaning to life but statistically speaking, all top 10 happiest countries except for Israel are way below the ideal fertility rate replacement level. Most of those countries actually have an extremely low fertility rate. And if you look at the 10 unhappiest countries, every single one is far above the replacement level.

                  I’m not saying more children = unhappiness , I just think less children ≠ unhappiness. I believe there are more important factors than just fertility rate which affect happiness

                  #309040
                  Vknid
                  Moderator

                    “True, but it helps oddly when you don’t have to grind your ass off every single day for 40 years for a shitty pay and living pay check to pay check. ”

                    You state that as if it’s the only life there is in I am guessing the USA. You would be massively incorrect. Working hard and achieving things has raised many people into higher classes than when they started. If you want to work at Burger King for 40 years doing the same job, you can do that.  And that would suck, but that is a consequence of a lack of ambition and poor life choices not a function of any system.  To quote Larry Elder, “you cannot fully control the outcomes but you can 100% control the amount of effort.”

                    “I’m not saying more children = unhappiness , I just think less children ≠ unhappiness. I believe there are more important factors than just fertility rate which affect happiness”

                    You are connecting things that are not connected.  The fertility rate is an important stat and in the places it’s now so low in is generally due to radical liberal policies.  You would be hard pressed to name any tenant of the radical left that does not end with less people.  But I digress.  The fertility rate has nothing to do with happiness.  It has nothing to do with the number of children either.   The take away is, and the point of this post, is that people are often taught that living for themselves is the path to contentment.  It is not.  In fact that’s the path to misery for most.  Living for people you love like family, spouses and children are what generates long term happiness for most.  Pleasure is fleeting and meaningless.  To reach contentment you have to play the long game and perform delayed gratification.

                     

                    #309053
                    Mustangride1
                    Moderator

                      Answer is simple and verifiable.

                      Look at your phones internet time. Also add up PC time and time watching the news.  You are bombarded with nothing but pure negativity on those it’s no wonder people are negative.

                      I stopped spending so much time on the Net and watching any news. Guess what the Quality of my life has improved dramatically.

                      Also if you hang around or talk to people that are negative you cannot help but be influenced by it. So stay away from them.

                      You can argue those points until the cows come home, but it does not mean they are not true. Told a friend that a month ago, challenged him to stay off social media and to stop watching the news. He told me earlier this week I was right, tough pill for him to swallow and tougher to admit to. I seen to many people become what they hate because they do not see the addiction of Negativity. I been there as have many, but how many are willing to look at themselves and say “I HATE WHAT I AM BECOMING” and how many are truly willing to say I AM STOPPING MY ADDICTION to the net as its toxic and making me toxic and unhappy????

                      #309089
                      Vknid
                      Moderator

                        Social media is not the cause but it does very much spread the lies about how to live life that are.  You might even argue that it’s the primary spreader of all those bad ideas.  But it’s not making those assertions it just assists in spreading them.  However, to your point, if you remove yourself from internet and “news” that does make it difficult to get poisoned by those bad ideas.  That’s a help but common sense needs to be brought back for all to see and allow that sort of culture to take root and teach people, the young, how to live before it is too late.  I find it more productive to arm young people with good information vs. trying to keep them away from all negative sources as eventually they will encounter them.

                         

                        Watched this video this morning.  It’s exactly what I am talking about overall with this post.

                        #309154

                        The causes of unhappiness and lack of meaning in life are difficult to reduce to a single problem, and among the many factors, biochemical aspects may also be included. For example, changes in growth hormone can affect mood and general well-being, I often drink it https://worldhgh.com/ as I also have problems with it. Nevertheless, the problem remains complex and multidimensional. Other factors influencing unhappiness and lack of meaning in life may include: Social isolation Societal pressures Economic inequality Technology and social networks Environmental stresses Education and professional pressures

                        • This reply was modified 5 months, 3 weeks ago by petrderbikov.
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