Destined for Greatness or Just the Pressure of Social Media and Society?

[HeBrokeMyHeart]

I must know what you all think, that I'm egotistical? Big headed? Or well just think I'm special. None of these things could be further from the truth, every day I doubt myself, am I on the right path? Should I be doing things differently? What is it in life that I should be doing?

Because deep down I always have this feeling that I was destined to do something great, to make a difference, do something so good that it'll affect generations for years to come. It could be solving cancer (which is highly unlikely as I get very queasy just having blood tests), running for prime minister, helping the third world countries .... it could be anything.

And this is what I struggle with internally day in day out, just trying to figure out what my purpose is. Many of my friends don't get it, they want to either settle down with their partners, buy houses, have kids and work a nine till five jobs they hate, or just have no ambition to succeed. And don't get me wrong, none of these things is bad or the wrong way to live life, as long as its what makes you happy and fulfilled then who am I to judge? Because the key to life is to be happy, that's the purpose - but what makes me happy? What makes you happy?

It's such a difficult question to answer because many things make me happy. However, because my friends have different life plans to me I find it very hard to explain to them what I'm feeling, some days it's like this overwhelming feeling of guilt for not figuring it out yet, other days it's this hunger to succeed and finally fill this hole inside of me which seems to be missing.

Maybe it's the pressure of society nowadays pushing us to succeed in everything we do, the pictures on social media of people living their fake happy rich lives that make people feel guilty for not amounting up to much or the constant feeling of judgement from everyone in life. It seems that people in this day and age feel that it's okay to troll and bully people for what they do in life, to hide behind their screens, feeling the exact same guilt and judgment, the pressure to amount to something great that they must bring down successful, happy people just to feel that tiny bit better about themselves.

To feel important, to feel power and authority, to feel that they are able to effect people .... not generally in a good way. It's today's society that pressures young people to live these fake lives, pretending to be happy because sadness isn't a good trait. Because of this people seem to disconnect with people because they can't connect with themselves because after all the pretend smiles and fake happy life - who really are we?? We lose ourselves in the everyday life of social media, the influences of people who put on a pretence and forever feeling not good enough, or that you must work harder.

Every day I live with this and I know I must not be alone, to wish this generation would put down their phones more, to actually listen and connect to the people around them, to open up more and to not be afraid of showing emotion. For people to stop playing games and to stop the bullying because it's deemed as cool or makes you feel superior. For this generation to give each other a God damn break and lend a helping hand and support people's dreams and passions instead of knocking them down because of your own selfish reasons. Why is it so hard for people to connect and be there for the people they love? There are so many superficial friends that you never know who's really there for you and who's just there for a laugh.

Ask yourself this - Are you as connected to the people around you as you really believe you are? And what can we do as a generation to change this cycle that seems to be getting worst?

Is it really the feeling of being deemed for greatness or just feeling the pressure of this society to amount up to something great? Anyone else feel this way? I would love to hear your views!

[Aristides]

I can relate. I came to a conclusion a long time ago, that even though I feel like I can help change the world because I really want to help people, that I don't have what it takes. What drove me to that conclusion, seeing others being so successful, charismatic and happy. I am never really satisfied with anything I do, I don't do things for praise or reward... well a simple smile and a thank you is enough. It feels like a weight crushing me though. Everyone else is ambitious with a dream to follow, whether it is for the sole purpose of making money... they still have something driving them forward. I look at the world and see that people are just overly selfish. You can't blame them though, if you think about we really don't know much other than what we witness with our own senses. For example, until I read your question you did not exist in my reality, and now I know you do. Tomorrow I will forget. It is the sad reality. Every time I go out and look up at the stars, you see the infinite possibilities of what is out there. Yet the majority of the planet only care about wealth, status and power. How can one person change that, change the way people see the world. To have them focus on helping their communities, treating people more kindly and feeding their curiosity for the unknown. Allowing them to freely follow their path to happiness, while making sure they don't use others as stepping stones. That is when I realize it might just be easier to sit at home and watch Netflix until I wither away.

[lovelyhoneybones]

Not everyone is destine for great things, and it may sound sad but it's the truth. It's the same reality that a lot of people face. I want to be an indie singer as well as an actress and all though that may come true one day, I have to look at the probability of it actually becoming a reality. Sometimes I have hope, other times I realize that I am 1 out of 7 billion people in this world. People tell you all the time whether you succeed or fail comes down to you, but in actuality, that isn't always the case. Some people succeed in what they set out to achieve and other people fail. For every successful person you see, there are one hundreds of thousands of people who have failed trying to get to where that ONE person is.

Does that mean don't try to succeed and what you want? No, it doesn't. As human beings we have a natural drive. We go for what we want. Even when we run out of something to chase, we still keep going or come up with something else.

I think the society that we live in pushes this super star life style onto us. Everywhere you look it's about celebrities. Models, actresses, singers. Most people will never get close to that.

[DerSchweinehund]

Well, it's unfortunately quite a contradictory way of life for us. We wish to be great, and yet we also wish to connect with those around us. While they are not mutually exclusive, they certainly correlate negatively.

You are not alone. I, for one, have always felt that I might become a great man of science. However, as time went on, I realized how very wrong I was. It's a much too ambitious plan, partly born of my own social incompetence. I was overly ambitious, and settled for becoming a less-great man of science.

You see, the need to be great is natural. However, some people, such as myself, feel the need to compensate for their weaknesses with great ambitions. I myself cannot for the life of me be charismatic with women. No matter what I do, it is simply impossible, and it always has been. I'm also unnaturally ugly. Of course, these facts together gave birth to a strange sort of arrogance. I believed that a great future was bestowed upon me; that I was not ignored for my looks or lack of personality, but for my "greater mind."

Needless to say, I was wrong. I blamed society to my heart's content, hoping that it was not me who was at fault. I was very wrong, and realized that not only was I inadequate in the social world, but the same applied in academics. So I leveled it out, giving up my unrealistic ambitions and settled for being more modest with my plans.

I do not think we are so drastically shaped by society. Bullying has existed since the dawn of civilization, as has societal pressure (although only in higher social circles in the past).

If you truly are ambitious, pursue it. However, expect nothing. Chances are you won't cure cancer, or become prime minister, or become the next Niels Bohr, but that does not at the slightest invalidate your contribution to humanity.

It's the little people who make things happen, even if their names remain forever unknown. If you can live with that, you're all good.

[DerSchweinehund]

I should add that upon leveling out my priorities, I became way happier in life. I'm much more social now, much more open and likable. That doesn't mean I'm not an academic and don't strive to be great, but it means I've accepted the sad fact that not everyone is destined for greatness.

As I said, expect nothing from life. It's a cruel wasteland. Keep trying, but don't pursue a pointless cause.

[luvstoned4him]

Totally relatable. I have always asked myself this question.. what makes me happy, what is my purpose and then of course you are tricked into thinking if must be something Grandeur and something that can measure up to that of the other successfuls out there.

[Prof_Don]

For me personally, I do feel the 'destined for greatness' vibe with me.

I have noticed that I was above-average in maturity in comparison to most of my peers, and was always told from various people in my life (not just family and teachers) that I was "special".

So for me, this was more than just capitalism pushing everyone to "be great or else".

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

I enjoy your MyTake. Its difficult to explain.

I just think people have been serverly damaged by social media and TV. The expection of society, especially in the west of what it's deemed "Successful" is to graduate college, make a certain expected salary, look a certain way etc. that many people fail to live to, causing others to look down upon them as losers.

I say the hell with it all. I live my life for God and myself. My happiness comes first. That's all I know.

[NerdInDenial]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLn1QkSBGj4

[razor97]

your novel is useless, we all have different opinions. i try to avoid this society like cancer. i hate it

[Anonymous]

You will eventually find your purpose.